Hospice Services Offers Families Support and Comfort Through Quality End-of-Life Care
Hospice is a philosophy of caring for the terminally ill. At University Hospitals, hospice provides compassionate care and support for families, allowing patients to live fully up until the final moments, surrounded and supported by the faces of loved ones, friends and committed caregivers.
UH patients and their families can receive hospice care at:
- Hospice of the Western Reserve at University Hospitals: This program is a joint venture between UH and Hospice of the Western Reserve. Established in 2019, this program builds on the strengths of both organizations to provide high quality hospice care, bereavement support, and other individualized services for hospice patients and their families.
Hospice Services Offered
Hospice represents a concept of care rather than a specific location, so services are delivered wherever the patient resides – in his or her own home, in a hospital, skilled nursing or assisted living facility, or in a group home.
Specialty services include:
- Support cancer hospice services
- Expert nursing services focused on hospice and palliative care
- Supportive counseling provided by master’s prepared social worker
- Life closure and spiritual counseling offered by spiritual care counselor
- Medical and palliative care guidance and oversight
- Personal care services provided by certified home care aides
- Access to special services like speech and physical therapy when needed
- Coverage for medicine, supplies and equipment to manage the terminal illness
- Volunteers specially trained to support the needs of the dying patient and family
- Bereavement support for those grieving for the year following the death of the patient
- Access to University Hospitals for care when symptoms cannot be managed at home
- 24-hour availability
First Steps in Hospice Care
Discussions about hospice care can take place between the patient and his or her physician and family, once the decision is made to focus on comfort rather than a cure. After the patient makes his or her decision, a doctor’s order is obtained to begin hospice care.
Quality Measures
Hospice of the Western Reserve at UH is licensed by the state of Ohio, certified for Medicare and Medicaid, and accredited by The Joint Commission. Hospice patient families and caregivers will be asked to complete satisfaction surveys and results will be benchmarked and used for quality improvement activities.
Payment Information
Hospice care services are paid for by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans.