SERVICES PROVIDED

PHYSICIAN SERVICES (Hospice Physician)  The Hospice Physician complements the services of the attending physician and intervenes to meet the general medical needs of patients and families.  Important functions of the Hospice Physician include the certification and re-certification of the patient's terminal illness, direction of the interdisciplinary group conferences, consultation visits, as well as overall program evaluation to ensure quality of care and the appropriateness of care/services.    

NURSING SERVICES (Case Manager):  The RN Case Manager coordinates the patient's care and services provided by the hospice team in collaboration with extended care facility staff.  The primary responsibilities of the RN Case Manager include assessment of patient/family needs, planning and organizing care to be provided, and implementing the approved plan of care.  Additionally, the RN Case Manager supervises and evaluates the quality of care provided by the entire hospice team.

HOSPICE AIDE/CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDE:  The Hospice Aide/CHHA provides personal care under the supervision of the RN Case Manager.  The Hospice/CHHA follows written instructions and assists in implementing the plan of care.  

SOCIAL WORKER:  The Social Worker, in collaboration with the extended care facility staff, provides psychological and emotional assessment of the needs of the patient and family.  The Social Worker provides the patient/family with information and referral to appropriate community resources and serves as an advocate on their behalf to access additional services that they may need.  The Social Worker assists the team with psychosocial aspects of care to ensure continuity and direction.  In addition, the Social Worker provides in-service training to facilities and hospice volunteers on related social service issues.  The Social Worker also conducts bereavement support groups for families of hospice patients as well as for staff of the extended care facility.  

CHAPLAIN:  The Chaplain functions as a member of the interdisciplinary team to assist the patient and/or family with spiritual issues regarding life and death.  The Chaplain facilitates interaction between clergy in the community and the patient and family.  The Chaplain fulfills an educational role with clergy of all denominations to convey the specialized spiritual needs of individuals facing the end of life.  The Chaplain provides information and referral to appropriate resources by providing spiritual support.  The Chaplain is involved in bereavement support and participates in hospice volunteer training.  

BEREAVEMENT:  Bereavement provides support to the families and friends of people who died.  Bereavement calls these people within a week of their loss.  The Bereavement keeps further contact up to 13 months after the intial contact.  One of the main Bereavement funtions is to help grieving families and friends work through their loss in a structured way.   

VOLUNTEERS:  Hospice volunteers donate a few hours each week to provide emotinal support and respite care to hospice patients and their families.  Volunteers are available to serve in many ways and receive comprehensive training and supervision from the Social Worker, RN Case Manager and the Volunteer Coordinator. 

Other services are provided as needs are identied by the interdisciplinary team:

•      Physical Therapy
•      Occupational Therapy 
•      Speech Therapy    
•      Dietary Counseling