SJH HospiceCare of is dedicated to improving the quality of life for our patients. When medical treatments cannot cure a disease, the hospice team can do a great deal to manage pain, reduce anxiety, and help the patient and family focus on experiencing each day as pain-free and with as much meaning as possible.

Palliative care:

• Is designed to ease pain and provide "comfort measures."
• Focuses on enhancing your quality of life.
• Includes the patient and their family or loved ones in all aspects of the care.

Palliative care is the aggressive treatment of physical and emotional pain or symptoms.  All palliative care treatments are designed to enhance the patient's comfort and overall quality of life.

Comprehensive, palliative care is not intended to cure the patient's underlying disease.  As a result, routine lab work, IVs, blood transfusions, or surgery would only be appropriate if you, your attending physician and the rest of the hospice team have determined that these procedures would relieve pain or enhance comfort.

In the event of a cardio/respiratory arrest:  

If you desire cardiopulmonary resuscitation your family/caregiver can contact emergency medical services by calling 911 if a CPR certified hospice person is not present.  If present, the hospice person can initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation.  Your wishes must be indicated on the Hospice Election/Informed Consent.  Any change in this decision must be documented on a Hospice Election/Informed Consent change form.