Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut

Day Kimball Hospital provides hospice and palliative care services to the community through the services of Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. A program of Day Kimball HomeCare, Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut was founded in 1983 and is licensed by the state of Connecticut, accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and certified by Medicare.

Hospice provides special care for terminally ill patients, with a life expectancy of six months or less, and their loved ones. Hospice provides palliative care (comfort care), focusing on providing pain relief and symptom control. The goal is to enable the patient and his or her loved ones to live each remaining day to its fullest. Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut considers the patient and the family as the central focus of care. The emphasis is to enhance the patient’s and family’s lives by meeting the medical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of the patient and family throughout the illness and then to support the family with bereavement services afterwards. The focus, to the maximum extent possible, is to keep the patient at home or in a home-like setting.

The Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut team is made up of highly skilled professionals and volunteers, working together with a patient’s family physician to provide a wide range of services which are designed to provide comfort and symptom control. The team includes hospice medical directors, the patient and family physician, nurses, home health aides, medical social workers, nutritionist, pharmacist, clergy of various faiths, physical, occupational and speech therapists; and volunteers. Most of the nursing staff is certified in hospice and palliative care.

Criteria for Admission

Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut accepts patients who:

Have a terminal illness;
Have a limited life expectancy of six months or less;
Have a physician that orders hospice services;
Have chosen palliative care (comfort care) and are no longer seeking aggressive therapy that is focused on a cure or is life prolonging;
Understand the hospice philosophy and agree to having hospice care;
Have a person who is willing to accept responsibility for primary care of the patient in the event that the patient is no longer safe to be alone, OR, the patient is willing to make other provisions for care when they are no longer safe in the home.

A patient can come onto the hospice program with a life expectancy of six months. The earlier the admission to hospice, the more time there is for both the family and the patient to benefit from the services that can be provided by Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut.

Those wishing to make a referral should contact Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut at (860) 928-0422 or (800) 664-2442. A Hospice representative will discuss Hospice care with you. Arrangements can be made for a presentation visit in the hospital, in your home or in the hospice office if you prefer. During the presentation we will describe the program and the services that you can expect. We feel that this presentation allows time for our patients and families to consider the services available and to make an educated choice of the service or the program that would best meet their needs. An admission visit can be scheduled after speaking with your physician and receiving consent for admission to hospice.

Services Provided

Comprehensive hospice and palliative care services for terminally ill patients and their loved ones. Services are holistic and encompass the patient’s medical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Bereavement services are provided to family members and loved ones for up to 14 months.

Palliative Care Program
Provides skilled care to persons with a serious or life limiting illness who may be continuing to aggressively treat their illness or who have a prognosis that is greater then six months. Through the palliative care program physical psychosocial and spiritual needs are addressed through our interdisciplinary team.

What to expect during your visit/procedure

Our staff is highly skilled in the management of physical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual issues at the end of life. You can expect our staff to be professional, caring, compassionate and responsive to your questions and concerns. Our staff will keep you informed on what to expect through the illness. Ongoing communication with the patient and family is essential.

Important reminders/things to remember

• Hospice services are for terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less;

• Hospice care is not based on finding a cure but instead is based on palliative care or pain management and symptom control to help the patient and his or her family make the most of their remaining time;

• A physician order is required to begin hospice services;

• Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut maintains a family suite at Day Kimball Hospital for symptom control and family respite;

• Bereavement support is provided to family members and loved ones for up to 14 months;

• Hospice always has a need for caring volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a hospice volunteer, call Janet Johnson, of Volunteer Services, at (860) 928-6541, ext. 2279;

• If you are interested in making a donation or bequest to Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut, contact the Day Kimball Philanthropy Department at (860) 928-7141.

Contact Information

Phone: (860) 928-0422 or
(800) 664-2442 (in CT.)
Fax: (860) 963-2259
e -mail:
cemmerthal@daykimball.org

Location

Third floor of Day Kimball Hospital,
320 Pomfret Street, Putnam CT.

The Hospice Family Suite is located on the East One Medical/Surgical Unit of the hospital.

Directions

To the Hospice Offices
Enter the hospital through the main Visitors Entrance. Take Elevator B on the main floor, located across from the Pharmacy, to the third floor.

To the Hospice Family Suite
Enter the hospital through the main Visitors Entrance. Take the main elevators to the first floor. Take a right off the elevator, then another right on to the East One Medical/Surgical Unit. The Hospice Family Suite is on your right hand side.

Directions to DKH

Hours

The hospice office is open weekdays from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. There is a nurse available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to address concerns by phone or to make a visit when needed.

Physicians/Team members

Carol Emmerthal, RN, BSN,
Director, Hospice
Joseph Alessandro, DO,
Co-Medical Director
Andrea Gutierriez, DO
Co-Medical Director
Janet M. Perry, RN, CHPN
Clinical Supervisor
Jonathan Scott
Hospice Chaplain
Diane Mann, LICSW
Janet Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator
Donna Hendrickson, Office Coordinator
Suzon Warner, LPN,
Bereavement Coordinator

Related support groups or programs

Day Kimball HomeCare

The Good Grief Group
A six session, children’s bereavement support group held periodically throughout the year. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information, call (860) 963-5333.

Adult Bereavement Support Groups
A six session, support group held at various locations throughout the year. This group is open to all adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one. For more information call (860) 928-0422.

Coping with the Holiday’s Support Group
A support group for adults which meets in November of each year. For more information call, (860) 928-0422.

Related affiliates or organizations

Connecticut Coalition to Improve End of Life Care
c/o Institute for Long Term Care Policy,
300 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT. 06450. Tel. (203) 237-4556.
http://www.canpfa.org/

Last Acts
http://www.lastacts.org/

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Phone: (800) 646 – 6460
http://www.nhpco.org/

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Day Kimball Hospital
320 Pomfret Street (Route 44)
Putnam, Connecticut 06260
Phone: (860) 928-6541 or (860) 774-3366
TTY: (860) 963-6422