Our Team

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PHYSICIAN SERVICES

The hospice medical director, physician employees and contracted physician(s) of the hospice, along with your attending physician are responsible for the palliation and  management of your terminal illness and any conditions related to the terminal illness. If your  attending physician is not available, the hospice medical director, contracted physician and/or  the hospice physician employee is responsible for meeting your medical needs. 

SOCIAL WORKER 

Facing a serious illness can be a time of tremendous pain and confusion for you and your  family. Because you must deal with emotions and challenges throughout the time in which  the illness is occurring, a social worker may be assigned to help you and your family.  Services that may be provided by the social worker include: 

• Providing emotional support, counseling and guidance to the patient and family in coping with stress related to the illness. 

• Identifying community resources which are available to help you. 

• Assisting the patient and family with planning for funeral arrangements, nursing home placement, etc. 

• Offering information about Advance Directives. 

SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR 

Hospice spiritual care is based on a high respect for the patients’ and caregivers’ personal  faith and belief. The hospice spiritual counselor is available to assist patients and families  cope with the significant spiritual issues that often arise during terminal illness. The services  offered include regular pastoral care visits, being on-call and available for crises, conducting  funerals and memorial services as requested, and contacting a patient’s own clergy, pastoral  counselor or other individuals for additional support, if desired. The hospice spiritual  counselor does not impose his/her personal belief systems to seek to change the beliefs of  others. 

HOSPICE AIDE/HOMEMAKER 

Our hospice aide/homemaker services are provided under the supervision of a registered  nurse to patients who have a need for personal care on a part-time basis. Our hospice aides  have experience in caring for people in need and have been carefully chosen to provide care  for the patients of the hospice. The hospice aide assists with the patient’s personal care  which may include bathing, hair care, shaving, skin care, line changes, catheter care and  straightening the patient’s immediate surroundings. Hospice aides are not allowed to  dispense medication. They will report any changes in the condition of the patient to the  appropriate team member. The nurse schedules their visits and days may vary to meet the  patient’s needs. 

VOLUNTEERS

A vital part of hospice is the carefully selected and well-trained volunteers working alongside  the professional staff. These special people provide many different types of support for the  hospice program and those coping with terminal illness, grief and loss. They are good listeners, non-judgmental, adaptable and have a strong desire to reach out with love and  concern to others. Volunteers may be used on a regular schedule or on a call when needed  basis. 

BEREAVEMENT 

Bereavement services are an integral part of the hospice program. Following a terminal  diagnosis, patients and families often struggle with anticipatory grief issues. The medical  social worker and spiritual counselor are available to assist families during this emotionally  difficult time, as well as provide information on common aspects of anticipatory grief.  Following a hospice patient’s death, hospice continues to provide bereavement support to  grieving families. While one individual is identified as the primary contact with the family,  generally the spouse or the primary caregiver, all members of the family are eligible to receive bereavement services. 

These services are available for a period of one year following the patient’s death. They  include regular support group, phone contacts and individual visits (as desired by the  bereaved family) by the medical social worker or spiritual counselor to assess bereavement  coping skills and provide emotional support. For needs that exceed the scope of hospice  bereavement services, referrals to other organizations and professionals within the  community are available. These services are also made available to anyone in the  community in which hospice services are provided. 

PLAN OF CARE, TREATMENT AND SERVICES 

Our hospice involves key professionals and other staff members in developing your individual  plan of care, which is based upon identified problems, needs and goals, physician orders for  medications, treatments and care, your environment and your personal wishes whenever  possible. Effective pain management is an important part of your treatment plan. 

The plan includes five basic areas: 

• Physical Care 

• Personal Care and Comfort 

• Spiritual Needs 

• Psychosocial Needs; and 

• Bereavement Care 

We offer a wide range of hospice services including pain management, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement counseling to ensure that our patients receive the comprehensive care they deserve.