The Hospice Philosophy
Hospice affirms life.
Hospice exists to provide support and care for persons in the last phases of incurable disease so that they might live as fully and comfortably as possible. Hospice recognizes dying as a normal process whether or not resulting from disease. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice exists in the hope and belief that, through appropriate care and the promotion of a caring community sensitive to their needs, patients and families may be free to attain a degree of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is satisfactory to them.
At all times the guiding force will be to provide what is best for the person and his or her family facing life threatening illness. The Hospice Council exists to undertake activities which will foster the development of Hospice in Maine. The Hospice Council recognizes and embraces the diversity of needs and means of meeting them. At all times the guiding force will be to provide what is best for the person and his or her family facing life threatening illness.
The purpose of the Council are as follows:
-
To provide a definition of Hospice, specifying those components that, at a minimum, should be in place.
-
To engender coordination in the development of Hospice and assure cooperative and efficient use of Maine’s resources.
-
To produce standards of care that by virtue of interdisciplinary participation will guide Hospice care development in Maine towards quality of care and cost effectiveness.
-
To provide technical assistance to existing and developing Hospice programs.
-
To provide technical assistance and information to the Maine State Legislature and other government bodies in developing Hospice policies. This is to assure appropriate regulatory criteria required for quality of care in Hospices and their permanence as an integral part of the health care system.
-
To give assistance in evaluating both the quality and costs of providing Hospice care in Maine.
-
To assist in the development of educational programs for the community, providers, patients, and their families.
-
To recommend guidelines to be used for reimbursing Maine’s Hospices and determining the levels of reimbursement.