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Published: November 14, 2009 08:34 pm
Hospice is about living and compassion
To the Editor:
Cumberland Times-News
November is National Hospice Month, an appropriate time to filter through the facts and myths surrounding end-of-life care discussions recently in the media.
Hospice really is about living. In fact, researchers who looked at statistics for terminally ill patients found that for some cardiac and cancer diagnoses hospice patients lived longer on the average than non-hospice patients.
These patients experienced better symptom control and were able to spend their last days comfortably with their families.
Hospice provides compassionate care when a cure is not available and the patient desires to focus on enjoying the rest of life unencumbered by unsuccessful medical interventions.
Hospice care is composed of an interdisciplinary team including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, nursing assistants, clergy, bereavement personnel and hospice volunteers.
Care is available 24/7, usually taking place in the patient’s home.
Government reports express concern about hospice care costs rising, but that is due to increasing numbers of people choosing hospice services. Hospices served 1 million patients in 2004, vs. 1.45 million in 2008 when approximately 38.5 percent of U.S. deaths were under hospice care.
Hospice saves money, an average of $2,309 per terminally ill patient, according to a Duke University study.
The first modern hospice in the United States was established in 1974. Today there are 4,850 hospices nation-wide.
These and other statistics regarding end-of-life care are available via the Internet. An excellent site about end-of-life care and advance planning is www.caringinfo.org.
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s web-site, www.nhpco.org, also contains extensive information and statistics regarding hospice care.
Hospice of Potomac Valley Hospital is a small community hospice that has been providing quality, compassionate end-of-life care in Mineral County since 1995.
When visiting Potomac Valley Hospital be sure to check out our display for National Hospice Month in the foyer. Information can also be obtained on our Web site at www.potomacvalleyhospital.com under ancillary services.
Roberta Shafer, RN, BSN
Hospice nurse
Hospice of Potomac Valley Hospital
Keyser, W.Va.
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