Welcome to Passages: Care and Dignity Through Hospice.AseraCare is proud to sponsor Passages, a publication in support of the growing field of hospice care. Hospice is a medical specialty medical specialty Any specialty that provides non-interventional Pt management, ie with drugs, or with minimum intervention–eg, balloon catheterization Examples Internal medicine–allergy and immunology, cardiology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, that focuses on patient and family care in the last six months of a patient's life. But it encompasses far more than physical medicine-it is a holistic state of mind that promises everyone the right to die with dignity, in as much comfort as possible, with an opportunity for personal growth and the knowledge that family members are receiving emotional support.[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In hospice, preserving quality of life at the end of life is our focus. That's why hospice cares for the body, mind, and spirit of the patient and attends to the emotional needs of the family, including extended bereavement Bereavement Definition Bereavement refers to the period of mourning and grief following the death of a beloved person or animal. The English word bereavement counseling. The idea of hospice is not new. Since the Middle Ages, the dying have received special care. Hospice was introduced to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. in the 1970s as care for terminal cancer patients. It has expanded to encompass all patients with a terminal illness. Hospice is provided by an interdisciplinary team interdisciplinary team, n a group that consists of specialists from several fields combining skills and resources to present guidance and information. and can be made available in patients' homes and in nursing homes, assisted living as·sist·ed living n. A living arrangement in which people with special needs, especially older people with disabilities, reside in a facility that provides help with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, and taking medication. , hospitals, or other facilities. Family support extends to facility caregivers, who are considered part of the patient's extended family. Hospice is covered by Medicare, private health insurance, and Medicaid (in 45 states). The field of hospice is evolving and becoming more and more accepted. According to a Government Accountability Office The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress, and thus an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government. analysis, the number of Medicare beneficiaries who used hospice care more than doubled from 1992 to 1998, and the numbers continue to increase. In 1996, physicians became eligible for Board Certification board certification n. The process by which a person is tested and approved to practice in a specialty field, especially medicine, after successfully completing the requirements of a board of specialists in that field. in the hospice field. AseraCare has been providing quality hospice for more than a decade. We hope this publication will be a guiding light for excellence in hospice care and a source of information on the benefits and comfort that hospice can provide. We are committed to the hospice mission and to serving our patients, families, referral sources, and communities. Dignity and peace at the end of life are precious gifts. Best Regards, Chris Roussos President AseraCare |
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