Administration

The Hospice Services team is led by Deb Borowske, RN, MSN, director of Hospice Services of Southwest General.  She is available if you have a problem with the care you receive.  She can be contacted at dborowske@swgeneral.com.

The manager of the Hospice Services team is Kevin Eye, RN.  He can be reached for any concerns at 440-816-5000.

There also is a business office at The Thomas P. Perciak Family Residential Hospice.  They are available to assist you with any questions in regard to insurance, billing or payments.  They can be reached at 440-816-5017.

Bereavement Coordinator

A bereavement support person is available to support the patient and the family as they define and redefine the losses they are experiencing due to the terminal illness.  Support groups, classes and individual sessions to help cope with the many layers of grief work also are provided. This service is available for up to two years after a death. The bereavement coordinator can be reached at 440-816-5019.

Hospice Aide

A hospice aide is a specially trained person who comes to the home or nursing home several times each week to help the family care for the personal needs of the patient. This care includes bathing, shampooing and pampering the patient. This compassionate care is provided by 13 different fully-trained staff members.  The team works to provide the same two aides throughout the patient’s hospice experience.  This consistency provides a unique level of personalized care.

Physician

Hospice Services is led by Dr. Ramesh Gundapanini, a physician with more than 20 years of experience in hospice care.  As the attending physician, he visits the residential center patients each week and is available on weekends, as needed.  He also oversees the care provided by Hospice Services to the outpatients.  The patient always retains the right to request that their primary care physician direct the medical care or may request the medical director to direct the medical care decisions.

Nurses

Many of the nurses of Hospice Services of Southwest General are certified in hospice and palliative care.   Currently Hospice Services has approximately 21 nurses on staff.  A specific nurse is assigned as the manager of the patient’s care.  The team works to provide the same two nurses to each patient and family to provide consistent care.  The nurse comes to the home as needed by the patient or family.  There is an on-call nurse available 24 hours a day for emergency concerns.  There is a registered nurse in the residential facility 24 hours day. 

Social Worker

The social worker provides holistic patient and family-centered care across treatment and care settings.  They seek to understand the person and family in the context of their lives.  They work to enhance the strengths of the terminally ill person and family as they cope with their life situation.  They will listen to what you have to say and they can help you talk about things that are important to you and to the people that are important to you. They know about community services and they can help you arrange for care. 

Spiritual Care Coordinator

The spiritual care coordinator is available to assist in meeting the needs of all Hospice Services patients and their family members.  Spiritual care coordinator acknowledges and respects the patient’s and family’s beliefs, culture and values related to life’s meaning, including suffering and loss and desire for services.  Spiritual care supports patients and their families in the exploration of questions related to the illness, one’s relationship with others, nature, God, self-image and hope.  Spiritual Care is a vital aspect in the holistic care concept of hospice.  Hospice acknowledges and values the uniqueness of each person and recognizes that by being human, one has spiritual needs in their life’s journey.  They also are available for interdisciplinary team members regarding spirituality and related care and services.