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How Hospice Works: The Hospice Team
An innovative concept in healthcare, Hospice brings together a team of specially trained professionals and volunteers who work with the patient's doctor to provide a plan of care designed to control the pain and ease end-of-life struggles for the patient and family.
The Hospice Team is made up of professionals from a variety of disciplines and specially trained volunteers working under the stewardship of a Hospice medical director to meet the individual needs of terminally ill patients and their families. The Hospice Team also works with the patient and family's community of faith and/or other spiritual care resources, as requested.
For residents of a long-term care facility, Hospice offers a special program that works in concert with the facility staff to provide terminally ill patients with state-of-the-art symptom management and emotional and spiritual support, for themselves and their families, during this time.
Every Day Services, Around the Clock...
The Hospice Team will coordinate any individualized services or therapies needed, when they are needed most. Once the Hospice Team has been engaged, patients and families are never alone. Hospice Nurses provide emergency on-call assistance 24-hours a day, every day of the year.
- Registered Nurses provide skilled pain management services and caregiver education to help reduce complications and enhance family support. They coordinate the provision of medical equipment, supplies and medications, communicate with attending physicians and are "on call" 24 hours a day, seven days a week for patients and families.
- Certified Nurse Aides, under the supervision of the Hospice Nurse, provide patients with personal care and assistance with the activities of daily living.
- Medical Social Workers assist families in identifying their personal and community resources and developing support networks to aid in coping with a life-limiting illness.
- Trained Volunteers offer assistance with the activities of daily living and friendly support, companionship and encouragement to patients and family members.
- Counselors offer emotional and spiritual support, along with bereavement services to family members throughout the first year after loss.
- Patient's Physician works with the Hospice Nurse to design and oversee a plan of care and to coordinate medical equipment, supplies and medications.
- Hospice Medical Director provides consultation to the patient's physician and overall medical guidance for the Hospice Team and participates in the patient/family care planning.
- Ancillary Therapists provide additional types of therapy such as physical, occupational, speech and respiratory, when medically indicated.
- Managers handle administrative concerns such as compliance with quality assurance standards or Medicare and Medicaid regulations, offer guidance and support team members.
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