New BRMC Hospice Coordinator
By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department
Educating the public throughout McKean County about hospice care services for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families will be among the primary goals of newly appointed hospice coordinator Martha Dibble, RN-C. Hospice care is provided by Bradford Regional Medical Center’s McKean County VNA & Hospice, located at 20 School St., Bradford. Even if death is near, there’s something to be said for quality of life. Hospice care can provide in-home services which can mean so much for individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their families, says Mrs. Dibble.
“I want to educate the public and healthcare professionals on how hospice focuses on quality of life and families,” says Mrs. Dibble. “I feel drawn to hospice and the incredible service it can provide to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families,” she adds.
The new hospice coordinator has been working in the health field for more than 30 years with the past decade at VNA & Hospice, the home health department of BRMC.
“Martha comes to this role with 10 years of experience in home health, hospice and Project CARE elder outreach services,” explains Kathy Pascarella, director of VNA & Hospice. While at VNA & Hospice, Mrs. Dibble served as Project CARE nurse from
2002-08 and as a home health nurse from 1998 to 2001. Project CARE will continue to operate through VNA, officials say.
“We look forward to sharing Martha’s enthusiasm in her new role and BRMC/VNA’s mission of ‘Caring for Our Community Through the Journey of Life,’” notes Mrs. Pascarella.
Considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury, hospice and palliative care involve a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes, explains Mrs. Dibble. Hospice focuses on caring for, not curing, patients while in the familiar surroundings of their home.
Linda Wankel, VNA’s director of nursing, says Mrs. Dibble’s past accomplishments have shown she’s the right position to lead the hospice program.
“She took a dream, Project CARE, and turned it into a sustaining program,” Mrs. Wankel says. Project CARE identifies elderly who may be in need of services but might be overlooked by traditional referral sources.
“It’s because of her success in Project CARE that VNA & Hospice believes Martha is someone who can grow the hospice program through her energy, initiative, knowledge and a strong caring of others,” Mrs. Wankel says.
“We provided care to approximately 50 hospice patients in 2007 but our goal is to serve a larger number of people,” Mrs. Wankel says. Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make the decision to get hospice care for the terminally ill individual. Hospice referrals can be made to VNA & Hospice either by patients, their family members or physicians, Mrs. Wankel notes.
Hospice costs are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most third-party insurance companies, Mrs. Wankel says. Contributions and memorials can help pay for care for those without insurance. Hospice care is available to all who are eligible fegardless of ability to pay.
VNA & Hospice also provides related medical supplies and equipment that are needed.
Hospice care has a comprehensive approach for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The hospice team develops a plan of care to meet each patient’s
individual needs for pain management and symptom control, VNA & Hospice officials say. The team includes the patient’s personal physician, a hospice physician or medical director, nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy, trained volunteers, and speech, physical and occupational therapists, if needed.
To ensure all needs are met, a regular review of hospice cases is held. If a patient needs additional assistance with pain management, Mrs. Wankel says, VNA & Hospice staff can consult with hospice medical directors David Godfrey, M.D., and Paul Kirsch, M.D., or a clinical pharmacy consultant group specializing in hospice, palliative care and geriatrics.
For more information about hospice, call VNA & Hospice at 362-7466 or visit BRMC’s website at www.brmc.com.
Communications Department
Educating the public throughout McKean County about hospice care services for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families will be among the primary goals of newly appointed hospice coordinator Martha Dibble, RN-C. Hospice care is provided by Bradford Regional Medical Center’s McKean County VNA & Hospice, located at 20 School St., Bradford. Even if death is near, there’s something to be said for quality of life. Hospice care can provide in-home services which can mean so much for individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their families, says Mrs. Dibble.“I want to educate the public and healthcare professionals on how hospice focuses on quality of life and families,” says Mrs. Dibble. “I feel drawn to hospice and the incredible service it can provide to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families,” she adds.
The new hospice coordinator has been working in the health field for more than 30 years with the past decade at VNA & Hospice, the home health department of BRMC.
“Martha comes to this role with 10 years of experience in home health, hospice and Project CARE elder outreach services,” explains Kathy Pascarella, director of VNA & Hospice. While at VNA & Hospice, Mrs. Dibble served as Project CARE nurse from
2002-08 and as a home health nurse from 1998 to 2001. Project CARE will continue to operate through VNA, officials say.
“We look forward to sharing Martha’s enthusiasm in her new role and BRMC/VNA’s mission of ‘Caring for Our Community Through the Journey of Life,’” notes Mrs. Pascarella.
Considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury, hospice and palliative care involve a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes, explains Mrs. Dibble. Hospice focuses on caring for, not curing, patients while in the familiar surroundings of their home.
Linda Wankel, VNA’s director of nursing, says Mrs. Dibble’s past accomplishments have shown she’s the right position to lead the hospice program.
“She took a dream, Project CARE, and turned it into a sustaining program,” Mrs. Wankel says. Project CARE identifies elderly who may be in need of services but might be overlooked by traditional referral sources.
“It’s because of her success in Project CARE that VNA & Hospice believes Martha is someone who can grow the hospice program through her energy, initiative, knowledge and a strong caring of others,” Mrs. Wankel says.
“We provided care to approximately 50 hospice patients in 2007 but our goal is to serve a larger number of people,” Mrs. Wankel says. Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make the decision to get hospice care for the terminally ill individual. Hospice referrals can be made to VNA & Hospice either by patients, their family members or physicians, Mrs. Wankel notes.
Hospice costs are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most third-party insurance companies, Mrs. Wankel says. Contributions and memorials can help pay for care for those without insurance. Hospice care is available to all who are eligible fegardless of ability to pay.
VNA & Hospice also provides related medical supplies and equipment that are needed.
Hospice care has a comprehensive approach for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The hospice team develops a plan of care to meet each patient’s
individual needs for pain management and symptom control, VNA & Hospice officials say. The team includes the patient’s personal physician, a hospice physician or medical director, nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy, trained volunteers, and speech, physical and occupational therapists, if needed.
To ensure all needs are met, a regular review of hospice cases is held. If a patient needs additional assistance with pain management, Mrs. Wankel says, VNA & Hospice staff can consult with hospice medical directors David Godfrey, M.D., and Paul Kirsch, M.D., or a clinical pharmacy consultant group specializing in hospice, palliative care and geriatrics.
For more information about hospice, call VNA & Hospice at 362-7466 or visit BRMC’s website at www.brmc.com.
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