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Hood River 541-387-6449 866-680-6449 The Dalles 541-296-3228 866-680-4684 Hablamos Español |
Frequently Asked Questions for Providers Is Hospice of The Gorge a for-profit hospice? Is it owned by another organization? How long has Hospice of The Gorge served the mid-Columbia? What happens if my patient is un- or underinsured? How far away can patients live? What if they are Washington residents? Can Hospice of The Gorge see patients in nursing homes and other facilities? How often do Hospice of The Gorge staff members visit their patients? Can Hospice of The Gorge serve patients and families who speak Spanish? Could a Hospice of The Gorge medical director write orders or do a home visit for me? How skilled are Hospice of The Gorge nurses? What happens after hours? Is someone on call? Can a patient be admitted on the weekend? Does Hospice of The Gorge provide any “special services” not already mentioned? Q: Is Hospice of The Gorge a for-profit hospice? Is it owned by another organization? A: Hospice of The Gorge is a free-standing, nonprofit, public-benefit agency. We are supported by gifts from the community and various grant monies, including the United Way. Q: How long has Hospice of The Gorge served the mid-Columbia? A: Hospice of The Gorge has been helping communities in the Gorge since 1981. We served more than 2,300 patients and their families through April 2007. Q: What happens if my patient is un- or underinsured? A: We are proud to say that Hospice of The Gorge has never refused to serve a patient because of his/her financial circumstance and has never sent a bill to a patient. We are careful stewards of our resources. Q: How far away can patients live? What if they are Washington residents? A: Hospice of The Gorge serves both Oregon and Washington patients in eight mid-Columbia counties (Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Wheeler, Skamania and Klickitat). We supported the development of Klickitat Valley Hospice in Goldendale but still accept patients in that area if they choose our agency. Though we must always consider our resources, we willingly see patients in remote, rural settings if we are needed there. Q: Can Hospice of The Gorge see patients in nursing homes and other facilities? A: At any given time, 30 to 50 percent of our patients live in facilities. We have excellent collaborative relationships—and staff liaisons—with all residential care, adult foster care, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in the area. Q: How often do Hospice of The Gorge staff members visit their patients? A: As often as needed! Nurses visit at least once weekly, and commonly more often—even daily if a patient needs it. Home health aides are usually in the home two or three times per week, but more frequently as indicated. Homemakers, social workers, chaplains and volunteers all visit on schedules that make sense for the patient and caregivers. In a crisis, we can sometimes arrange for nurses and home health aides to be in the home for several hours per day until a situation stabilizes. Q: Can Hospice of The Gorge serve patients and families who speak Spanish? A: Yes. We regard this as an absolute necessity for assisting our community. Hospice of The Gorge Spanish-speakers include staff in medical directorship, nursing, chaplaincy and social work. Our office manager in Hood River is bilingual and bicultural, and two Hispanic lay “health promoters” advise our outreach team. Q: Could a Hospice of The Gorge medical director write orders or do a home visit for me? A: Yes, definitely. Our philosophy is to support the continuing relationship between you and your hospice patient, but we are also happy to have our physicians or nurse practitioner assist you at your request. We can provide medical director home visits, assessments of eligibility for hospice, palliative care consultations on symptom management, and medical orders related to the hospice diagnosis. When a symptom such as pain is rapidly changing, it’s sometimes helpful to the referring provider if a hospice medical director writes the new orders needed. Please feel free to ask us about these possibilities. Our medical director, Dr. Tina Castañares, is board-certified in hospice and palliative medicine. Assistant medical director Dr. Linda DeSitter is preparing for board examination in 2008. Assistant medical director Jennifer Stager, F.N.P., completed a nine-month fellowship in palliative care at the Portland VA. We are qualified and ready to assist you whenever you ask us to. Q: How skilled are Hospice of The Gorge nurses? A: Our orientation, training, and professional development programs are well developed. Our Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement program includes various metrics that allow for continuous assessment of their competencies and outcomes. Hospice of The Gorge employs the only two nurses in the mid-Columbia who have achieved national certification in this specialty. Q: What happens after hours? Is someone on call? A: Hospice of The Gorge ensures that there are two nurses, one nurse manager and at least one medical director on call at all times—24/7, 365 days per year. Q: Can a patient be admitted on the weekend? A: Yes. Because of support-staffing limitations, admissions are generally easier, quicker and more satisfying for both referring physician and patient if they are non-urgent and if they are launched on a weekday. But Hospice of The Gorge recognizes that the need for—or patient acceptance of—end-of-life care sometimes arises quickly, and we will always “stretch” to accommodate such needs. Q: Does Hospice of The Gorge provide any “special services” not already mentioned? A: It’s hard to know where to begin. Examples include speech, physical and occupational therapy; dietician consultation; psychotherapy and counseling; extensive bereavement support; coordination with area clergy; music and massage therapy; acupuncture; respite care and inpatient care; and travel packs. A committed donor base and grants allow us to occasionally provide unusual extras—a gift that can enhance quality of life; travel stipend for a family member; a special food, a pair of slippers, an inspirational picture or piece of music. Such ideas are limited only by the imaginations of our staff and volunteers, who “think big” and care deeply.  |