Clearing up the confusion of Hospice Care

People are generally familiar with the idea of hospice care – they understand why it exists and its purpose. However, beyond that, there is still a lot of confusion and uncertainty surrounding Hospice.

One of the biggest misperceptions is that when a patient enters hospice care, they are essentially passed off from their primary care doctor to the hospice team. This is actually incorrect. When a person comes into hospice care, their primary physician is always welcome to remain as their attending physician. The hospice team will communicate with the primary care doctor to ensure that the patient will receive the quality of care that they deserve.

But, what exactly is the hospice team and who is included in it? Hospice care is made up of what is known as an interdisciplinary team. This group is comprised of doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses, aides, therapists, social workers, a spiritual caregiver, and volunteers. The hospice team is designed to be a comprehensive group that works to treat all the needs of every patient and their family.

Each of these team members has specialized training and experience to walk alongside patients and their families while they are in hospice care. Spiritual caregivers meet with the patient and provide support to them and their loved ones during this emotionally trying time. Hospice nurses and nurse practitioners have the expertise and compassion necessary to help their patients and work with them on their care plans on a daily basis.

In addition to their hospice training, physicians on the hospice team are also specialists in palliative care. This training gives them the ability to help make the patient as comfortable as possible. This comfort is not intended to be solely physical but includes mental and spiritual comfort as well. The goal is to ensure that the patient and their family are kept as pain-free as they can be and thus better able to enjoy their time together.

Hospice of Chattanooga offers comprehensive medical, spiritual, and emotional care to patients and their families through our hospice team. From volunteers and social workers to spiritual caregivers and medical staff, Hospice of Chattanooga has all of the necessary components for the complete treatment patients deserve. For more information about hospice care, please visit https://www.hospiceofchattanooga.org.