Can my dad keep his lung and heart specialist doctors while on hospice?

If dad is still looking for treatments, perhaps it would be best to leave hospice. Look up palliative care. That might be more appropriate.

Wondering why the heart specialist would choose to work up your father for a hole in his heart after your dad was admitted to hospice. How are they going to order further tests if he has end stage COPD & can't breathe?
I don't understand. As stated once in hospice most meds are discontinued. The consensus on hospice is that no agreesive treatment will be provided.
Maybe your dad is scared of dying and isn't ready, as it sounded like dad wants to take the pressure off mom and still wants to live.
Maybe give him the chance to discontinue hospice and hire caregivers for home care.

I think he just wants to know with his heart. He is aware his COPD is bad and he has limited time

Hospice generally takes you off of all medications except those that are for comfort. My husband's heart meds were all discontinued, as were those for dementia symptoms. One dementia drug was added back in when it was apparent it did contribute to his comfort level.

How is the potential hole in the heart impacting Dad's comfort? If he moves forward to treat that problem, I assume he would go off of hospice.

I have no idea how VA benefits effect any of this.

Yes he is. I'm pretty sure both doctors were through the VA. He is just really worried as my mom isn't able to do it all on her own and if he wants to be able to see his Dr's. This is his preference

If your dad is a vet, using vet benefits and vet doctors--it's a different ballgame. I know my SIL loves the Veterans Hospital for "rounds" (he's a GI) but he HATES the paperwork and the gov't running the show.

Best you talk to his coordinator of benefits and get a straight answer. Is he wanting to have the heart problem deal with? Or is he accepting the dx and just living day to day?

Daddy never saw his Parkinson's specialist after he choose Hospice. That was him, though, and his decision.

He is on Hospice for severe COPD. He also has congestive heart failure. I am aware of what Hospice is and why he is on. He recently went to his heart Dr and and heart Dr questioned meds Hospice changed and wanted my dad to have further testing about potential hole in his heart. He contacted Hospice to inform them of and they in return told him he couldn't have so many doctors which upset him. When he was first put on Hospice he asked about his hear dr and they said it wouldn't be an issue and all would work together. He is now being told that Hospice may be discontinued if he decides to keep his Doctors.

Your question makes me wonder if you understand that calling in Hospice is an admission that there is no cure or that the treatment proposed would have an unacceptable negative effect on the quality of his remaining life, and that your dad has chosen to discontinue any further treatment.

My mom is on Hospice right now. She has an appointment with her neurologist in a couple if weeks. I asked the hospice nurse today if we could still go to that and she said it was fine.

My mom is on Hospice right now. She has an appointment with her neurologist in a couple if weeks. I asked the hospice nurse today if we could still go to that and she said it was fine. So I would say yes. I don't want to give up her doctor because hospice could take her off anytime. She has Alzheimer's so it is a bit different.

Probably not. Or rather the hospice doctor will be in charge. When one goes on hospice it is for end-of-life comfort care, and specialty doctors are generally no longer needed.

What would you anticipate the specialists doing for your father when he is on hospice?