George Gaston, CEO of Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital and Frances Lekwart, COO of Memorial Hermann Home Health and Hospice officially open the inpatient Hospice Unit at Memorial Hermann Southwest.
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally-ill patient's symptoms. The symptoms can be physical, emotional, spiritual or social in nature.
"Memorial Hermann Hospice at Memorial Hermann Southwest will provide exceptional and compassionate medical care for terminally-ill patients needing pain and symptom management," said George Gaston, Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital CEO. "Our clinicians are committed to relieving suffering and improving the quality and dignity of life not only for patients with advanced illness or nearing the end of life, but also for the family members and friends close to the patient."
Upon completion, the hospital's unit will house 12 beds. The hospice team, including affiliated physicians, registered nurses, social workers, therapists, chaplains and trained volunteers, will provide services such as:
- Medications for symptom control and pain relief
- Chaplain support
- Social work
- Bereavement counseling
For more information about hospice services, visit www.memorialhermann.org or call 281-784-7520.