Theologian Stanley Hauerwas on Visiting and Befriending the Terminally Ill

Stanley Hauerwas has some very insightful comments on visiting the terminally ill and "becoming a friend of time."

Merry Christmas from the Blue Skies Hospice Staff

From all of those around the Christmas Tree at the Blue Skies Hospice house: Lisa Guzman (RN, Director, Administrator), Amy Mosoriak (RN, Alternate Administrator), Karen Lansdowne (RN), Arlene Bakota (RN, Bereavement Coordinator), Carol Newman (RN), Mary Smith (CNA), Darla Phillips (CNA), Karen Murakowski (Secretary), Buddie Fennie (Chaplain), Mary Lyn Groen (Dietician), Veronica Leigh Davis (Social Worker), Karen Bonnes (Social Worker), Dr. Russell Miller (Medical Director), Pearl Masciotra (Volunteer Coordinator, Marketing), Julie Hancin (Volunteer), Diane Palma (Volunteer), Paul Reinbold (Volunteer)

For-Profit vs. Not-For-Profit Hospice

There are many misconceptions about hospice care, not the least of which being that quality of care does not differ between for-profit and not-for-profit hospice organizations. Hospices in the United States care for over a million patients per year—That is one million people who seek comfort, care, and companionship at the end of their lives and millions more of family members who seek, and rightfully expect, the best level of care, highest level of respect, and most resolute level of dedication for their loved ones. When family members embark on the painful and uncertain search for a trustworthy hospice they should be aware of some crucial differences between for-profit and not-for-profit hospices.

As the name implies, for-profit hospices exist and function primarily as businesses. It is the mission, duty, and responsibility of a for-profit hospice to make money, and in order to make money, they utilize the same tactics of any smart business, especially cost cutting. The only way for a for-profit to cut costs is to cut care.

A study released by Medical Care in 2005 found that “terminally ill patients who receive end-of-life care from for-profit hospice providers receive a full range of services only half the time compared with patients treated by nonprofit hospice organizations.” (read more details)

The disparity in care between for-profit and not-for-profit hospices is directly attributable to the profit motivation in for-profit hospices. Medicare reimbursement for hospice care reached $8.3 billion in 2005. With their eyes fixed on dollar signs and turned away from patients and their families, for profit hospices are likely to cut pain-reducing medications, personal visits, counseling services, and radiation therapy, according to the Medical Care study.

The senior author of the study, Dr. Elizabeth Bradley of Yale Medical School, summarized the results with the following statement: “For-profit hospices might not be as strongly rooted in the traditional hospice philosophy” of “psychosocial support, spiritual care, the use of volunteers and family, and symptom management.”

Blue Skies Hospice, a service oriented not-for-profit, is rooted in and dedicated to the traditional hospice philosophy, as defined by Dr. Bradley. It is a reliable palliative caregiver in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago suburbs, and its team of nurses, social workers, faith leaders, and volunteers are committed to giving patients and families physical, social, and spiritual comfort in their time of pain, agony, and worry.

Unlike many other hospices, Blue Skies is not driven by bottom-line accounting and pecuniary gain. It is driven solely by love and service for patients and their families.

Blue Skies Hospice: Committed to Compassion and Quality Care

Blue Skies Hospice, Incorporated was founded by Lisa Guzman in 2002 to offer services that hospice does not normally offer. Blue Skies Hospice provides care to patients that have feeding tubes, intravenous therapy, and treatment of most infections. The philosophy of this agency is to provide any service within the scope of the law to allow dignity and to provide peaceful end-of-life care.

Care is managed through a team consisting of nurses, physicians, social workers, chaplains, home health aides, and volunteers.  Staff members visit homes and long term care facilities, focusing on symptom and problem management.  Registered nurses are on call 24 hours a day to help with all problems encountered that can't be handled by phone.  If this occurs, a visit is made to the home. Blue Skies Hospice provides services for children and adults. Services are tailored to the needs of the individual.

We provide personalized services to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. We always strive to provide the highest quality care. Valuing patient and family requests and assisting with individualized care we strive to meet the needs regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or economic status.

The vision of Blue Skies Hospice is to provide patients the option to remain in their homes during a terminal illness or, to be placed in our hospice house that provides 24 hour care with an emphasis on the patient and family's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

For more information on the loving care and service options Blues Skies Hospice is dedicated to providing patients and their families, visit http://www.blueskieshospice.com/