When palliative care and comfort, rather than cure, is the focus in a terminal illness, Hospice provides care and support to both patient and family. An interdisciplinary team of highly trained professionals provides care at home or in identified long-term care facilities during the dying process. The goal of this physician-ordered care is to identify and control symptoms of physical, emotional and spiritual pain.

Pain and symptom control is a major objective of the Hospice program. When the patient is physically comfortable, all involved are more able to deal with emotional and spiritual issues and live as fully as possible.

Regularly scheduled visits to the home or the long-term care facility by the Hospice nurse are supplemented by round-the-clock availability for emergency situations. Visits by Home Health aides, chaplains, social workers, counselors, and volunteers are identified and the care plan changed.

Bereavement support is provided to family members for 13 months after the patient’s death. Bereavement care includes special mailings, visits, phone calls, grief workshops for adults and children, and a memorial service twice a year to help cope with grief and loss.

Third-party payment may be made through Home Health Care or Hospice benefits. Saint John’s Hospice is a certified provider of care under the Hospice Medicare Benefit.

Saint John’s Hospice is part of the full range of cancer services provided by Saint John’s Health System. These also include Saint John’s Cancer Center, chemotherapy, skilled medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, and Tumor Board and Registry. Saint John’s Medical Supplies provides a variety of medical equipment and supplies for use in the home. Saint John’s Women’s Center offers state-of-the-art mammography equipment and core biopsy equipment for diagnosis of breast cancer in the earliest stages.

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