If you or those you love are struggling to cope with life-threatening illness, help is available through hospice care. As a result of the 1982 national legislature, a Medicare hospice benefit was created. Medicare is the primary payer for nearly two-thirds of hospice patients. In addition, Medicaid, private insurance, grants, and patients and their families finance hospice care. Through Medicare, a physician-certified terminally ill patient, with a life expectancy of six months or less and entitled to Medicare Part A, can elect hospice care services.
Most communities have one or more hospice locations.
St. Peter s Hospital Home Link and Westmont. Last week I visited with Julie Brinck, a registered nurse, who is a referral case manager for St Peter s Hospital Home Link. Brinck is a compassionate, understanding human link between the doctor and the patient and family. When I asked how many cases they handle in a year, she responded, between 80 and 90 cases. Hospice care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management and emotional and spiritual support especially designed for the patient s needs and wishes, as well as the patient s family.