St. Joseph Hospice General Information

Coping with a terminal illness can be a daunting experience - not only for the dying patient, but also for his/her loved ones, as well as the patient's physicians and other health care providers.

One of our greatest fears is dying alone in a sterile, impersonal surrounding; cut off from family, friends, and loved ones, and things that are familiar.  We all also fear dying in pain.  Many of us would prefer, if possible, to spend our final phase of life at home - pain-free and alert as possible - surrounded by the people and things we love.

Pioneers in the care of the terminally ill have shown that appropriate and timely treatment during a patient's last days makes a wonderful difference to his/her life and death.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is an end-of-life care option that provides dying patients and their loved ones with comfort, compassion, and dignity.  Hospice, an established philosophy and concept of care for the terminally ill, is an innovative strategy in health care.

The model for quality, compassionate care at the end-of-life, hospice care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain and symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's needs and wishes.  Support for the patient's loved ones is key and considered paramount.  At the center of hospice is the belief that everyone has the right to die pain/symptom-free and with dignity, and that our families receive the necessary support to allow us to do so.

The hospice focus is on caring, not curing and, in most cases, care is provided in the patient's home.  Hospice care also is provided in freestanding hospice facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.  Hospice services are available to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness.

The Hospice Care Team

The Interdisciplinary Team is dedicated to helping patients and their families remain in the comfort and privacy of their own homes or nursing homes for as long as they wish.  The team at St. Joseph Hospice includes the following:

• Hospice Medical Director who acts as a consultant to our staff and area physicians, and who is a board certified hospice physician
• Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses who provide individualized care
• Medical Social Workers who offer emotional support and assist with community resource needs
• Chaplains who offer spiritual and emotional comfort and services
• Certified Home Health Aides who provide personal hygiene care
• Bereavement Counselors who provide support throughout the first year after the loss
• Volunteers who provide companionship for patients, run errands, and numerous other services
• On-call Nurses for 24 hour service, 7 days a week
• Community Educators who provide information to both the public and the medical community

Eligibility

Hospice care is available to persons meeting the following criteria:

• The patient's doctor and the Hospice Medical Director certify that the patient is terminally ill
• The patient and family desire hospice services and live within a 50 mile radius of our office
• The goal of care is comfort and supportive care rather than curative treatment
• There is a caregiver in the patient's residence available to provide 24 hour care when the patient can no longer care for his/her self

Payment for Hospice Services

Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private and managed care insurance plans.  This includes payment for professional staff visits and services, medications for pain and symptom control, equipment, and supplies related to the terminal illness and included in the hospice plan of care.  No patient will be turned away because of inability to pay for our services.