Oswego County Hospice: 25 Years of Meeting Challenges and Changes

by Submitted article | November 3, 2014 4:23 pm

For 25 years, Oswego County Hospice has been at the forefront of providing comfort and palliative care to its patients.

Oswego County Hospice, the only certified hospice located in Oswego County, has not only kept up with the rapidly changing healthcare field, but continues to provide the same family-centered care it has since its inception.

Oswego County Hospice offers a holistic program, with a focus on caring, not curing.

Hospice is a part of a person’s continuum of care, in partnership with the patient, family and medical staff.

Hospice services are available through Oswego County Hospice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Every person receiving Hospice Care has access to a volunteer, registered nurse, social worker, dietician, home health aide and spiritual care.

This interdisciplinary team develops a plan of care with the patient and family to ensure that their needs are being met. All visits are based on the patient/family need as described in the POC and the condition of the patient during the course of the illness.

Oswego County Hospice is family centered care, and also provides bereavement services to the family throughout the length of the illness and for 13 months once a loved one has passed.

The total number of days that a hospice patient receives care can be influenced by a number of factors including disease course, timing of referral and access to care. The national median length of service in 2013 was 18.5 days.

This means that half of hospice patients received care for 18 days or fewer and half received services for more than 18 days.

In 2013, Oswego County Hospice served 186 clients. The average length of service was 48 days.

Hospice services include care for the physical, psychological, spiritual, nutritional and social concerns of the patient and family.

They also include medical equipment, supplies and medications related to the patient’s diagnosis.

Hospice bills most insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid.

For individuals with Medicare, Hospice services are covered completely.

However, because of the changes brought forth under the health care reform act, some insurance plans may have higher deductibles, co pays or coinsurance.

Affordable payment arrangements are available to patients and families whose insurance does not cover all services.

Oswego County Hospice will never turn people away based on their ability to pay.

Oswego County Hospice is committed to promoting the highest quality of living for each family according to their personal beliefs and choices.

Anyone can contact Hospice to make a referral.

Call Oswego County Hospice at 349-8259 to learn if hospice is right for you and your loved one.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/community/oswego-county-hospice-25-years-of-meeting-challenges-and-changes/

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