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info@washingtonhospital.org                                                                    724-250-4500
When life expectancy can no longer be measured in years but in months . . .
and
when the need is no longer to aggressively treat the disease or seek a cure,
but rather to treat symptoms with every hope of being comfortable . . .
then you can find that care beyond cure.

 

Hospice Care

 Mission
 History
Levels of Care
 Skilled Staff

Donnell House

10 Leet Street
Washington, PA 15301 
724-250-4500    

Donnell House is a residential hospice where terminally ill patients are cared for during their final weeks and days. Located at 10 Leet Street in Washington, Donnell House is a 20,000 square foot residence designed in the style of an English country home. Nestled in a tranquil neighborhood setting, Donnell House contains three floors including eight patient rooms that open onto private patios. A community room, family kitchen, great room, sun room, quiet rooms, chapel, and children’s play area provide a comforting environment for patients and families.

Skilled Staff

Physicians:

The patient’s doctor and the Hospice Care medical director consult regularly with the patient care staff.

Nurses:

Certified hospice nurses and nursing assistants make regularly scheduled visits to patient homes for nursing assessment and personal care. A registered nurse is on-call 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week for emergency situations.

Social Workers &
Counselors:

Social workers and counselors provide emotional support to patients and care-givers and coordinate community resources.

Volunteers:

Skilled volunteers provide various services, such as visitation, respite for caregivers, meal preparation, errands, light housekeeping, and telephone reassurance.

Clergy:

Spiritual care is provided by specially trained Faith Into Action for Hospice Care volunteers or the patient’s clergy.

Bereavement Counselor:

A certified grief counselor provides bereavement support services for caregivers after the loss of their loved ones.

And YOU -

The patient and caregivers are at the head of the team.

Mission

The mission of Hospice Care of The Washington Hospital is to provide individualized care and meet the multiple needs of terminally ill patients and their loved ones.

Hospice is specialized, compassionate care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families or caregivers.  It includes physical, emotional, social and spiritual support.  A specially trained medical team and volunteers help patients and their loved ones live each day to the fullest, enhancing comfort and quality of life. In addition, support services are provided to the loved ones caring for the patient during illness and into bereavement.

Hospice Care of The Washington Hospital is the region’s most comprehensive hospice program, offering all levels and types of hospice services for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families, including home hospice care, inpatient hospice care at The Washington Hospital, residential care at Donnell House, along with respite care, consultative palliative care and bereavement counseling.
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History

The modern hospice movement – a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families – has been around since the 1960s to help improve the quality of a patient’s last days by offering comfort and dignity.  Today, there are more than 3,100 hospice programs in the United States.

Hospice Care of The Washington Hospital traces its roots to Greene County, Pa., and the late Rev. Dr. J.E. Victor Carlson, who first created Hospice Care of Greene County in 1978.  It later expanded to Washington County and in 1996 merged with The Washington Hospital to create the region’s premier hospice program, providing all levels and types of care.  Today, the Reflecting Room at Donnell House is named in honor of Rev. Dr. Carlson.
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Levels of Care

Many patients under hospice receive routine home care—all care is provided in the patient’s home. But there may be a time when the patient’s needs change and a different level of care is necessary. The levels of care available through Hospice Care of The Washington Hospital include:

Inpatient Care for patients who choose to be cared for in an inpatient hospital setting at The Washington Hospital’s.

Home Hospice Care for terminally ill patients who choose to remain in their homes during the final weeks and days of their illness.

Respite Care for families and caregivers of terminally ill patients who need a short break from the day-to-day care of their loved ones.

Palliative Care, for effective symptom control and pain management, assistance with end-of-life decision making and as a resource for patients and caregivers.  Palliative care is not a cure or an aggressive treatment option.  Rather, it allows patients to live as comfortably as possible with dignity and in peace during their final days.

Eligibility

To be eligible for services, a person must be diagnosed with a terminal illness and have a prognosis of six months or less based on disease progression under normal circumstances. All referrals are confirmed with the individual’s doctor who maintains an active role as the coordinator of care.

Caregivers

Hospice Care of The Washington Hospital supports a caregiver’s endeavor to care for the patient at home. If a caregiver is not present in the home, an assessment will be made prior to admission in accordance with Hospice Care’s Living Alone Policy.

Payment For Services

Care is provided to all hospice patients regardless of ability to pay. A patient’s insurance is billed for services provided. For those individuals without adequate insurance coverage, who meet the admission eligibility requirements, care is provided through Hospice Care’s Free Care Fund.
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