Medical Community

As healthcare professionals, we share your goal of providing the highest quality care to your patients. When the goals for care become comfort instead of cure, it is time to consider hospice care for your patient. The most common comment we receive on patient satisfaction surveys is “I wish we had been referred to Hospice earlier.”

When to consider Hospice care:

  • The patient has sought treatment in an emergency room or been hospitalized for a disease-related episode twice in the past year
  • The physician is receiving an increased number of calls and requests from family caregivers
  • Family members appear to be overburdened with or fatigued by caregiving
  • After hospitalization, the patient cannot return home and is admitted to a nursing facility
  • The patient has had a weight loss of 10% or more in the past six months
  • The patient’s appetite has been steadily declining, unrelated to any other medical condition

“Breaking the ‘Bad’ News to Patients and Families:
Preparing to Have the Conversation about End-of-Life and Hospice Care”
The American Journal of Geriatric Cardiology; Nov-Dec 2004
Arnold RL, Egan K

Top-ranked reasons physicians refer to Hospice:

  • “Hospice staff can better guide the patient and family through the dying process than I can.”
  • Pain control
  • Nursing support and psychological support
  • Request by patient or family member
  • Family not coping well
  • Access to benefits, such as home oxygen and durable medical equipment

-Brickner, Sonnell, and Ackerson Journal of Palliative Medicine

What Hospice does for the patient and family:

Hospice provides a comprehensive plan of care intended to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient. The hospice team includes the family in the plan of care and offers emotional and practical support during the patient’s illness and grief support after death.

  • Registered nurse visits
  • Registered nurse on-call availability 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Physician services
  • Social work services
  • Spiritual care services
  • Grief support services
  • Home health aide/homemaker services
  • Volunteer services
  • Prescription medications related to the terminal illness
  • Medical equipment and supplies related to the terminal illness
  • Respite care
  • Continuous crisis care
  • Physical, speech and occupational therapy
  • Dietary consultation as indicated
  • Payment accepted from all insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid

What sets Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan apart . . .

  • Admissions We respond to your requests within hours so you have confidence that we will follow through. We admit the same day, evenings and on weekends.
  • Hospice physicians Our professional team includes two hospice physicians certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine available to make home visits.
  • Medical treatments We offer individualized medical treatments to ensure your patients’ comfort and quality of life (blood transfusions, intravenous hydration, paracentesis, wound consultation, palliative radiation, lab, etc.).
  • Registered dietician Our dietician assesses your patients’ needs and provides a creative approach to nutrition designed with comfort in mind.
  • Massage therapy We offer massage therapy to provide relaxation and relief to sore and stiff muscles.
  • Music therapy We offer music therapy to help reduce pain and anxiety, decrease isolation and strengthen family bonds.
  • Life story recording We offer your patients the opportunity to record their life stories– a valuable gift of memories for their loved ones.
  • Rose Arbor We set the standard of care for residential and inpatient hospice services. Rose Arbor, the only licensed hospice residence in the region, has 18 private rooms to provide your patients and their families with the specialized care they need.
  • Financial assistance We serve everyone, regardless of the ability to pay, and offer help with financial issues that often arise during a serious illness.
  • Grief support services We offer counseling and support groups for families and friends during and after illness. Special grief support services are available for children and grandchildren.

For further information call (269) 345-0273 or email us.