Hospice Team
Skilled professionals dedicated to helping both patient and family
The range of comprehensive hospice services at Southwest General is administered
and carried out by a team of highly trained and compassionate professionals
focused on helping your loved one as well as you and your family.
Administration
The Hospice Services team is led by Deb Borowske, PhD, RN, MSN, and Director
of Hospice Services of Southwest General. She is available if you have
concerning the care you receive. She can be contacted at
dborowske@swgeneral.com.
The manager of the Hospice Services team is Alice Leach, RN. She can be
reached for any concerns at
440-816-5000.
Our Hospice business office is located at The Thomas P. Perciak Family
Residential Hospice and can provide assistance with any questions regarding
insurance, billing or payments. They can be reached at
440-816-5017.
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. This team works to provide the same two aides throughout
the patient’s hospice experience. This consistency of service provides
a unique level of comfort and personalized care.
Physician
Our Hospice Services is led by Dr. Ramesh Gundapanini, a physician with
more than 20 years of experience in hospice care. As the attending physician
and medical director, 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 our outpatients. While under our Hospice care,
our patients always retain the right to request that their primary care
physician direct the medical care. They may also request the medical director
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 and the team works to provide the same two nurses
to each patient and family to provide consistent care. A nurse comes to
the home as needed by the patient or family and there is an on-call nurse
available 24 hours a day for emergency concerns. A registered nurse is
present in the residential facility 24 hours day.
Social Worker
Our social worker provides holistic patient and family-centered care across
treatment and care settings. They work to get to know and understand the
person and family in the context of their lives while striving 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 the people and things that are important to you.
Their thorough knowledge of community services and can help you arrange
for care quickly and efficiently.
Spiritual Care Coordinator
Our spiritual care coordinator is available to assist in meeting the needs
of all Hospice Services patients and their family members. The coordinator
acknowledges and respects the patient’s and family’s beliefs,
culture and values related to life’s meaning, including suffering,
loss and a desire for services. The spiritual care provided 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.
Accordingly, hospice acknowledges and values the uniqueness of each person
and recognizes that by being human, one has spiritual needs in their life’s
journey. The spiritual care coordinator is also are available to interdisciplinary
team members for matters regarding spirituality and related care and services.
Volunteer Coordinator
Our volunteer coordinator, together with the hospice staff, assesses the
needs of the patients, families and caregivers for supportive services
and assigns volunteers to meet those specific needs. Care is provided
in homes, home-like settings and in The Thomas P. Perciak Family Residential
Hospice. Our volunteers are an integral part of the hospice team and the
"life" of this facility providing assistance seven days a week,
12 hours a day. Volunteers serve as:
- Welcoming greeters
- Hands-on patient care providers
- Patient support in the residential center and in homes
- Vigil volunteers at bedside
- Office support/clerical personnel
Hospice volunteers receive the satisfaction of having made a difference
in someone’s life through greater self-knowledge gained from relationships
with patients, caregivers and family members.
We Look Forward to Helping You
For more information about our Hospice Team at Southwest General or to
arrange an appointment to discuss your needs, please contact us at
440-816-5040 or
hospicereferral@swgeneral.com.