A comprehensive team dedicated to your care.
Our expert hospice team helps patients face the end of life on their own terms — and supports their families in facing the many challenges advanced illness can bring.
Through an interdisciplinary, team-oriented approach, we treat the entire person — not just the disease. We work closely with each patient’s physician to develop individual plans of care and ensure loved ones are informed and supported, at every stage of the journey.
The comprehensive team includes:
- Hospice Attending Physician: The hospice attending physician assumes responsibility for the medical management of the patient's terminal illness throughout his or her involvement in hospice. The patient may choose the attending physician, who may be a physician or advanced registered nurse practitioner. This individual is a key member of the hospice team.
- Hospice Medical Staff: The hospice physician and advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) are available for home visits to help with pain and symptom management. The patient may choose a physician previously involved in his or her care or elect to have a hospice physician or ARNP serve as his or her attending physician.
- Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner: The hospice ARNP is a member of the hospice medical staff who is certified in advanced or specialized nursing practice and works within a protocol with hospice physicians. The ARNP may be chosen as the patient's hospice attending physician.
- Clinical Manager: The clinical manager is the team's leader who oversees the care provided by the team and schedules team member visits with families.
- RN Care Coordinator (RNCC): The RNCC is a registered nurse who visits patients in their homes to provide care. The frequency of visits is determined by each patient’s needs. RNCCs perform regular assessments and keep the doctor informed about the patient’s condition. The RNCC also teaches the family how to care for the patient.
- Infusion Nurse: The infusion nurse is an RN who assists the RN care coordinator by initiating infusion and transfusion treatments. The nurse makes periodic visits to patients receiving these therapies to help maintain quality of care.
- Social Services Specialist: The social services specialist provides guidance and support to patients and families, assisting with questions and concerns related to the death and dying process.
- Resource Associate: The resource associate is the point of contact for community resources and financial benefits, such as questions about Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid.
- Hospice Aide: The hospice aide provides bathing, dressing and other types of personal care to patients. The frequency of hospice aide visits is based on the needs of the patient and family.
- Chaplain: The chaplain assists patients and families with spiritual or religious matters 24 hours a day and consults with community clergy.
- Pharmacist and Technician: The pharmacy staff is available by phone to answer any questions or concerns related to medications. The nursing and medical staff often consult with the pharmacist to assure the best choice of medications for symptom control and other treatments.
- Volunteer: Patient/family care volunteers are trained to provide emotional support and companionship to patients and their families. They also provide short-term respite for primary caregivers and family members, as well as practical help such as running errands. Volunteers are not permitted to administer any form of medication to patients. If a volunteer is providing short-term respite care, all medications are administered prior to the departure of the primary caregiver or prepared for the patient to administer the medication independently.
- DME Technician: The durable medical equipment (DME) technician delivers and maintains medical equipment in the home.
- Bereavement Specialist: The bereavement specialist provides grief guidance and support to family members assisting them though the bereavement process. Many services are available for adults and children to support the family through this difficult time and are offered for up to one year after the patient's death. We can also help find bereavement resources for family members not living in the area.
For additional information on our expert teams or other aspects of our hospice care, please call 1-800-355-8170 in Hillsborough County or
1-800-544-3280 in Polk, Highlands or Hardee County.