Coastal Hospice Inc

COASTAL HOSPICE PROVIDES HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES IN THE FOUR LOWER COUNTIES OF THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND TO INDIVIDUALS FACING LIFE-LIMITING CONDITIONS.

HOME HOSPICE CARE: COASTAL HOSPICE DELIVERS PATIENT-CENTERED HOSPICE CARE IN DORCHESTER, WICOMICO, SOMERSET, AND WORCESTER COUNTIES. THE HOSPICE TEAM INCLUDES (BUT IS NOT TIMITED TO) PRIMARY PHYSICIANS, REGISTERED NURSES WHO COORDINATE INDIVIDUAL PATIENT CARE, PHYSICIANS (WITH ADVANCED TRAINING IN SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT), SOCIAL WORKERS, CERTIFIED NURSING AIDES, SPIRITUAL COUNSELORS, BEREAVEMENT COUNSELORS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE VISIT OUR PATIENTS WHERE THEY ARE MOST COMFORTABLE: IN PRIVATE HOMES, NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. WE BASE EACH PLAN OF CARE ON THE PATIENT'S GOALS AND WORK WITH THE PATIENT AND HIS OR HER LOVED ONES, ULTIMATELY TO ACHIEVE DEATH WITH DIGNITY.

FOR PATIENTS WHOSE SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT NEEDS REQUIRE CLOSE ATTENTION, WE HAVE AN INPATIENT CENTER: COASTAL HOSPICE AT THE LAKE. OUR WING OF DEER'S HEAD HOSPITAL CENTER, WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY THE PICTURESQUE JOHNSON'S POND IN SALISBURY, OFFERS PATIENT ROOMS THAT ACCOMODATE FAMILY MEMBERS OVERNIGHT. COASTAL HOSPICE AT THE LAKE IS STAFFED BY A TEAM OF REGISTERED NURSES WHO COORDINATE INDIVIDUAL PATIENT CARE, PHYSICIANS (WITH ADVANCED TRAINING IN SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT), SOCIAL WORKERS, CERTIFIED NURSING AIDES, SPIRITUAL COUNSELORS, BEREAVEMENT COUNSELORS AND VOLUNTEERS. IN THIS PEACEFUL SETTING, PATIENTS ARE ATTENDED TO AROUND THE CLOCK, BUT IN A SETTING THAT IS MORE HOME-LIKE THAN CLINICAL. A FAMILY ROOM AND GARDEN ROOM, AS WELL AS A COUSELING OFFICE, PROVIDE FAMILY MEMBERS SPACE FOR THE SENSITIVE CONVERSATIONS.

PALLIATIVE CARE IS DELIVERED TO MANAGE THE PHYSIOLOGICAL, PRACTICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS WHO ARE FACING SERIOUS ILLNESS. UNLIKE HOSPICE PATIENTS, PALLIATIVE CARE PATIENTS ARE RECEIVING MEDICAL CARE IN ACTIVE PURSUIT OF CURE OR REMISSION. THE PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM PROVIDES PATIENT CARE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE GONE BY THE WAYSIDE IN THE CURRENT HEALTH CARE LANDSCAPE. PHYSICIANS HAVE SO LITTLE TIME TO SPEND WITH EACH PATIENT THAT IT IS ESPECIALLY VALUABLE TO HAVE TO PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM ON HAND TO CATCH THOSE PATIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS REELING FROM THE NEWS OF A SERIOUS DIAGNOSIS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT CARE, THE PHYSICIAN, NURSE PRACTITIONER, SOCIAL WORKER AND PASTORAL COUNSELOR HELP PATIENTS AND FAMILIES SORT THROUGH THE PRACTICAL ISSUES AND EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL TURMOIL THAT FOLLOWS IN THE WAKE OF DIAGNOSIS. WE KNOW WELL THAT WE HAVE THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO MEET THIS NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. COASTAL HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE OPERATES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TIDAL HEALTH IN THIS ENDEAVOR.