Final answer:
The social worker is the best person to address a hospice patient's financial issues and medical bills, as they are trained to handle financial concerns and connect patients to aid programs and community resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate member of the interdisciplinary team to refer a hospice patient with financial issues and medical bills is the social worker. Hospice care teams typically include various professionals, and the social worker is specifically trained to handle financial concerns as well as navigating community resources and support systems. They play a critical role in advocating for patients' needs, which includes financial counseling, connecting to aid programs, and, if necessary, legal advice.
Hospice care aims to provide support and comfort to patients and their families during the end stages of a patient's life, not only focusing on physical comfort but also addressing emotional, spiritual, and practical needs, including financial issues. As the hospice care model is designed to manage all aspects of a patient's end-of-life journey, it emphasizes care in a familiar and comfortable environment, often the patient's home, and involves family support and reduced caregiver burden.
While a physician may be the primary care provider, and while attendants and counselors play vital roles in daily care and emotional support, it is the social worker who is equipped and responsible for assisting with financial matters. They assist hospice patients and their families in coping with the many challenges that come with terminal illness, which includes managing the stress of financial burdens.