A Special Kind of Hope  

To contact the Doylestown Hospital Hospice, or for more information on hospice care and services please contact:

Doylestown Hospital Hospice
595 West State Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

215-345-2671 (office)
215-345-2202 (office)
267-880-1393 (fax)

About Doylestown Hospital Hospice

Doylestown Hospital Hospice, a non-profit organization founded in 1983 to serve Doylestown and surrounding communities is one of the oldest hospice programs in the region. In 1985, it became the third hospice program in the state to be accredited by the Joint Commission Accreditation of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO) and in 1990, it received Medicare certification. Doylestown Hospital Hospice serves approximately 300 patients and their families each year.

Doylestown Hospital Hospice Philosophy

Doylestown Hospital Hospice offers a special kind of care designed to provide sensitivity and support for people who are terminally ill. Our goal is to enable them to live as fully and comfortably as possible at home or in a home like setting. Dying is recognized as a normal process, and death is neither hastened nor postponed. A basic belief of the Hospice philosophy is the tenant that through appropriate care, patients and families will be free to attain a degree of physical, mental, and spiritual preparation for death that is comforting to them.

When Should Hospice Be Considered?

Hospice should be considered when life expectancy is measured in months rather than in years and when treatment for cure no longer seems appropriate. While many of our patients have cancer, others may have advanced cardiac, pulmonary, renal or neurological diseases. It is important that patients and families do not wait too long. Hospice care is more beneficial if it begins in time for important relationships and trust to develop. The patient and family should feel free to discuss hospice care at any time with their physician, other healthcare professionals, clergy and friends. Most physicians know about hospice. If your physician wants more information they can contact Doylestown Hospital Hospice.

Our Services

Doylestown Hospital Hospice is a highly skilled and dedicated team who provide dignified care to enhance the lives of both the patient and the family. The Hospice team consists of the patient's own physician as well as a registered nurse, social worker, bereavement counselor, home health aide, chaplain, and trained volunteers. Our Hospice Medical Director consults with the patient care team.

• The Hospice nurse makes regularly scheduled visits to the patient, providing expert pain management and symptom control techniques. Throughout the time that the patient is receiving hospice care, the nurse keeps the primary physician informed of the patient's condition. Nurses provide the complete spectrum of skilled nursing care and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 
  
•  The Hospice home health aides provide assistance with personal care of the patient.
  
• The Hospice social worker assesses the on-going needs and concerns of the patient. They assist with the care planning, provide emotional support and facilitate the use of volunteer and community resources as needed. 
  
• The Hospice bereavement counselor provides support and grief counseling in both a group and personal forum. Bereavement support is ongoing for one year after the death of the patient. 
  
• The Hospice chaplain provides spiritual support to the patients and families often serving as a liaison between them and their religious community. The chaplain often will assist with the memorial service and funeral arrangements.
  
• The Hospice volunteers are graduates of an intensive training program. Many are relatives and friends of former hospice patients who, having seen how much hospice can help, want to contribute to its' good work. Volunteers make regular visits to assist with patient care, help with household activities or stay with the patient so the family or caregiver can have some free time.