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The Hospice of Saint John tailors its care to the individualized needs of our patients and families. Our professional comfort care teams coordinate with patients, families, and primary care physicians throughout the disease process.
Staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in patients' homes, in nursing homes, in assisted living residences, and in our inpatient care facility.
Each Comfort Care Team consists of the following:
Attending Physician
 You may choose to have your primary care physician follow your care or the Hospice of Saint John can provide our own physicians. Our medical directors will review your plan of care regularly with you, your family and your interdisciplinary team.
Pharmaceutical Consultant
Our Pharmacist is always available as a resource to patients and families. This specialist thoroughly discusses all medication changes and options with you and your family.
Expert Nurses
Often, the first person you will meet from our hospice team is a nurse. Our nurses are experts in assessing the needs of hospice patients. The nurse's primary goal is to provide symptom management and comfort. We focus on the basic principals of quality care.
Dietician
Hospice patients' dietary needs frequently change in response to the disease process. Our dietary experts plan and prepare individualized menus, coordinating with care and medications. Personal, cultural and ethnic food preferences are a priority.
Medical Social Worker
Medical Social Workers work closely with patients and their families to create and maintain a supportive care system to ensure your safety and comfort. As needed, the medical social worker identifies community resources to help secure legal and financial assistance, teach personal coping techniques, and provide information concerning advance directives.
Pastoral Care Counselor
Pastoral Care Counselors provide non-denominational support to all patients and families who make this request. Our Pastoral Care Counselors are specially trained to help with spiritual issues or concerns arising from terminal illness, finding meaning in the midst of a difficult time.
Financial Counseling Staff
Our Patient Accounts staff are easily accessible to answer any questions relating to finances, coordinating and maximizing insurance coverage, and general billing procedures. At the Hospice of Saint John, care is provided regardless of patients' ability to pay.
Bereavement Counselors
Pre-bereavement is provided for the family and close friends to aid in the emotional healing of anticipatory grief. Following a loss, our Bereavement team is available as long as needed. Support groups, individual counseling, newsletters and telephone correspondence are available to provide comfort. These services generally are available to all members of the community regardless of age.
Complementary Therapies
The Hospice of Saint John offers a wide range of complementary therapies to enhance patients' care at the end of life. Aroma, animal-assisted, harp, healing touch, massage, music, and sound therapies are available to all patients, free of cost. This holistic approach works in conjunction with traditional approaches to address pain, discomfort, dyspnea, pre-death anxiety psychological and emotional stress, as well as many other symptoms.
Professionally Trained Volunteers
Volunteers are an essential part of our organization, complementing the quality care provided by staff, including personal care, companionship and support. Volunteers licensed in massage, hair care, language interpretation or other areas share their talent with patients and families.
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