Certification of Terminal Illness
In order to be admitted to a hospice program, whether or not the desired hospice is inpatient (meaning in a hospital or nursing facility) or outpatient (meaning in your residence), a physician must certify that the patient is suffering from a terminal illness that will cause death within six (6) months or less if the disease runs its normal course.
The physician will conduct an assessment of the patient, considering his or her physical, emotional, social, and environmental status, and, if in their medical opinion, qualifies for hospice, will fill out a form known as the CTI, or Certification of Terminal Illness.