Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls Home Health and Hospice

Hospice care is a special team approach to providing physical, emotional and spiritual support to persons and their families who are experiencing an illness where curative treatments are no longer desired or available. Hospice care:

• Places emphasis on quality of life and living one’s remaining time as fully as possible.
• Affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death.
• Provides relief from physical and emotional suffering.
  
• Cares for the whole person and family.
• Provides grief support to the surviving family.
  

Home health care team members are carefully trained and supervised and provide health care services to you in your home. Research indicates that people recover faster in the home setting. Home health services should be used:

• Immediately following a hospital stay.
• When you and your doctor think you will heal faster at home.
• When you need basic healthcare.
  
• When you cannot remain at home without assistance.
• When families or loved ones need time away from care responsibilities.
  

Home care is for people of all ages with either a temporary or permanent need for extra help.

There are a variety of benefits associated with hospice care, including:

• A patient-approved care plan.
• Expert pain management.
• Relief for other symptoms causing discomfort.
• Needed medications, supplies and equipment.
• Coaching for loved ones on how to provide care.
• Emotional support.
• Spiritual care.
• A 24 hour on-call registered nurse.
• Short-term inpatient care for symptom management or respite care.

There are numerous benefits to home health care, such as:

• Collaboration and coordination with other healthcare providers.
• Comprehensive care of disease/disability.
• Promotion and maintenance of health.
• Prevention of disease and disability.

The hospice team includes the following who are specially trained to understand and help the patient and their loved ones:

• The patient's doctor.
• Hospice medical director.
• Registered nurses.
• Social workers.
• Home care aides.
• Hospice chaplain.
• Volunteer coordinator.
• Bereavement coordinator.
• Trained volunteers.

A variety of specialists work together to offer a broad range of home health services. This includes:

• Skilled nursing.
• Certified nursing assistant.
• Physical therapy.
• Occupational therapy.
• Speech therapy.
• Medical social services.

Hospice caring starts as soon as we receive a referral. Referrals are accepted from doctors, family, clergy, friends or concerned loved ones. Upon referral, we contact those concerned and arrange for a consultation to see if hospice is the choice of the patient.

Anyone can refer someone to home health care - including friends, neighbors, clergy or family members. Referrals are also taken from physicians, nursing homes and hospitals. After a referral, an assessment visit will be arranged to help you decide what services would be right for you. We will work under the direction of your doctor and after admission, will work with you to develop a plan of care designed to meet your unique needs.

Medicare, private health insurance and Medicaid cover hospice care for patients who meet eligibility criteria. Services are also available on a private pay basis. Special arrangements can be made in cases of financial need. Hospice services are provided based on need regardless of ability to pay. The cost of care will be discussed with you before services begin.

Home health services are often reimbursed by Medicare, Medical Assistance or private insurance if the assessment shows a need for skilled nursing or physical therapy services. The Family Care Program will also pay for in-home services to eligible individuals. Home care services are also available on a private-pay basis, and special arrangements can be made in cases of financial need. All costs of care will be discussed prior to the start of care.

The red lines on the map below represent our Home Health and Hospice service area.