New inpatient hospice unit will provide comfort for families during difficult time

September 7, 2012

A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the opening of a new inpatient hospice unit at Christiana Hospital by Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care. Hospital-hospice partnerships have been called a “win-win” for patients with serious illnesses and their families.

Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care held an open house to showcase the new inpatient unit on 6D at Christiana Hospital.

The inpatient unit features 12 private rooms and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, and a family day room with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave and café tables for a family dining atmosphere. Patient family members can experience a home-like setting where families can have access to stay with their loved one 24 hours a day.

The new hospice rooms include wheelchair accessible bathrooms, a family day room with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave and café tables for a family dining atmosphere.

“The opening of the inpatient unit at Christiana Hospital completes the circle of care for Seasons Hospice and the Christiana Care Health System,” said Sharon Garrick, executive director of Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care. “Patients, families and the community will benefit from expert end-of-life care in an inpatient hospital setting. My staff and I look forward to providing this care.”

“Many of our patients are too ill to return to their homes to be cared for by a hospice team,” added John J. Goodill, M.D., FACP, FCCP, chief of Christiana Care’s Pain and Palliative Care Section. “Through this new inpatient unit, we are able to bring hospice care to patients who desire it while they are still at the hospital. This joint effort enables us to provide these patients with round-the-clock hospice care.”

The Center to Advance Palliative Care, a national organization that promotes palliative care programs, calls hospital-hospice partnerships a “win-win” for patients with serious illnesses and their families for several reasons. The partnerships:

Expedite and expand access to a continuum of high quality palliative care services.
Extend the hospice-hospital partnership through an improved understanding about the resources and constraints of each partner.
Identify strategies for improving patient and family satisfaction ratings.
Provide greater access to professional community-based bereavement services for families of deceased patients.
Enhance access to appropriate reimbursement for palliative care and hospice patients.