Quality Hospice Care Improves Over Time
VITAS HEALTHCARE SWFL
Oct 08, 2009
Florida - Southwest
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It takes time to deliver to patients all that the Medicare Hospice Benefit offers.
Americas hospice programs are being rushed. Short-stay patients, those referred for hospice care mere days before death, typically are in a state of acute medical, emotional and family trauma. Hospices only have time for emergency medical response, family crisis intervention and hurried attempts to maximize quality of life in the few precious days before the patient dies.
Although the Medicare Hospice Benefit is intended to provide comprehensive, quality care to those who are expected to live six months or less, half of all hospice patients nationwide receive only three weeks of care before they die. A third of hospice patients receive care for less than one week, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
That crisis-management approach is in sharp contrast to the hospice ideal: building trusting relationships; controlling distressing symptoms such as pain; encouraging meaningful emotional closure for loved ones; and facilitating a peaceful dying experience for the patient and grief support for loved ones.
As important as crisis support is, hospice is about living. While hospice can work miracles when someone is referred in crisis, we can do so much more for patients and families if we're given three weeksor better yet, three monthsinstead of three days to provide care. The more time the hospice team has to support the patient and family, the better the quality of life for the patient and the better the memories for loved ones following the death.
Customizing care to meet end-of-life needs
Hospice interdisciplinary team members care for each patient as an individual; his or her needs always come first. That kind of service reduces family calls to their physicians office and prevents unnecessary trips to the emergency department. And hospice provides timely communications to patients physicians, adds Joel Policzer, MD, VITAS senior vice president and national medical director, so they are never out of touch.
VITAS Telecare support ensures that the patient and family have 24-hour direct access to experienced hospice staff, adds Policzer. Just a phone call away, these professionals can be a reassuring voice at 3 a.m., and they also can assess, advise and dispatch clinicians in moments.
When there is a crisis or a spike in symptoms VITAS Intensive Comfort Care staff offer up to 24 hours per day of medical management in the patients home, where most people hope to remain at the end of life.
Caring for body, mind & soul
With time to get physical pain under control, there also is time to evaluate psychosocial pain. Patients often learn to embrace this important stage of life, making connections, repairing relationships, rediscovering simple pleasures and making their peace with death, says VITAS Social Worker Lori Reardon, MSW. Hospice helps patients live each day.
When the end comes, VITAS goal is not to let any patient face death alone, Reardon adds. Members of the team gather to be with their patient and to support loved ones at the final moments, and for a year or more after-ward. We help families to grieve, to live and to remember.
By Pippa Steinhart, RN, General Manager, VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Collier County. VITAS works with healthcare professionals in Collier County to bring quality of life to patients at the end of life. For more information, contact VITAS at 866.928.4827
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Local Services By This Author
VITAS Healthcare
Hospice Homes 4980 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, Florida, 34103Hospice Care in Southwest Florida: Collier, Lee, Glades, and Hendry countyThe VITAS Healthcare team visits patients wherever they call home, including but not limited to: private homes, senior living communities, and long term care facilities in Southwest Florida. We have offices located in Collier and Lee County and an Inpatient Unit in Naples. Coming soon, VITAS Inpatient Unit in Lee County.VITAS provides 24/7 support whenever our patients and families need it.At VITAS, we prioritize our patients and their families above all else. By concentrating on enhancing quality of life, managing symptoms and pain effectively, and minimizing 911 calls and hospital readmissions, we ensure our patients' comfort and well-being. VITAS distinguishes itself from traditional hospice providers through a personalized approach to care planning, transparent medication management, and a comprehensive range of specialized modalities tailored to meet diverse patient needs. These include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, wound care, palliative oncology therapy, palliative dialysis, and more.Office Locations:Fort Myers VITAS Hospice Office12751 Westlinks Dr. Fort Myers, 33913 Vitas Inpatient Unit at Solaris Healthcare Imperial900 Imperial Golf Course Blvd. Naples, 34110 Naples VITAS Hospice Office4980 N Tamiami Trail, Suite 102, Naples 34103Our Care ServicesAt VITAS we care for patients with an interdisciplinary team comprising a nurse, physician, aide, social worker and chaplain. Our teams design personalized care plans to ensure comfort, dignity and quality of life. Hospice Care at Home Condition-Specific Care 24/7 Telecare Intensive Comfort Care Veterans Care Inpatient Hospice Care Music Therapy Paw Pals Pet Visits Grief and Bereavement Support
VITAS Healthcare
Hospice 4980 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, Florida, 34103Hospice Care in Southwest Florida: Collier, Lee, Glades, and Hendry countyThe VITAS Healthcare team visits patients wherever they call home, including but not limited to: private homes, senior living communities, and long term care facilities in Southwest Florida. We have offices located in Collier and Lee County and an Inpatient Unit in Naples. Coming soon, VITAS Inpatient Unit in Lee County.VITAS provides 24/7 support whenever our patients and families need it.At VITAS, we prioritize our patients and their families above all else. By concentrating on enhancing quality of life, managing symptoms and pain effectively, and minimizing 911 calls and hospital readmissions, we ensure our patients' comfort and well-being. VITAS distinguishes itself from traditional hospice providers through a personalized approach to care planning, transparent medication management, and a comprehensive range of specialized modalities tailored to meet diverse patient needs. These include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, wound care, palliative oncology therapy, palliative dialysis, and more.Office Locations:Fort Myers VITAS Hospice Office12751 Westlinks Dr. Fort Myers, 33913 Vitas Inpatient Unit at Solaris Healthcare Imperial900 Imperial Golf Course Blvd. Naples, 34110 Naples VITAS Hospice Office4980 N Tamiami Trail, Suite 102, Naples 34103Our Care ServicesAt VITAS we care for patients with an interdisciplinary team comprising a nurse, physician, aide, social worker and chaplain. Our teams design personalized care plans to ensure comfort, dignity and quality of life. Hospice Care at Home Condition-Specific Care 24/7 Telecare Intensive Comfort Care Veterans Care Inpatient Hospice Care Music Therapy Paw Pals Pet Visits Grief and Bereavement Support
VITAS Healthcare
Support Groups & Services 4980 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, Florida, 34103Hospice Care in Southwest Florida: Collier, Lee, Glades, and Hendry countyThe VITAS Healthcare team visits patients wherever they call home, including but not limited to: private homes, senior living communities, and long term care facilities in Southwest Florida. We have offices located in Collier and Lee County and an Inpatient Unit in Naples. Coming soon, VITAS Inpatient Unit in Lee County.VITAS provides 24/7 support whenever our patients and families need it.At VITAS, we prioritize our patients and their families above all else. By concentrating on enhancing quality of life, managing symptoms and pain effectively, and minimizing 911 calls and hospital readmissions, we ensure our patients' comfort and well-being. VITAS distinguishes itself from traditional hospice providers through a personalized approach to care planning, transparent medication management, and a comprehensive range of specialized modalities tailored to meet diverse patient needs. These include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, wound care, palliative oncology therapy, palliative dialysis, and more. Office Locations:Fort Myers VITAS Hospice Office12751 Westlinks Dr. Fort Myers, 33913 Vitas Inpatient Unit at Solaris Healthcare Imperial900 Imperial Golf Course Blvd. Naples, 34110 Naples VITAS Hospice Office4980 N. Tamiami Trail, Suite 102, Naples 34103 Our Care ServicesAt VITAS we care for patients with an interdisciplinary team comprising a nurse, physician, aide, social worker and chaplain. Our teams design personalized care plans to ensure comfort, dignity and quality of life. Hospice Care at Home Condition-Specific Care 24/7 Telecare Intensive Comfort Care Veterans Care Inpatient Hospice Care Music Therapy Paw Pals Pet Visits Grief and Bereavement Support