Summati
THE
n Weekly USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C om mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia / S a n ta Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 17, No. 20
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
May 24, 2017
1 Section, 12 Pages
Easing the Burden written by Tanner Yea
End-of-life care can be a draining and weathering prospect, but the people at VITAS Healthcare are striving to make the best out of a difficult situation. VITAS Healthcare opened their Pensacola location at the beginning of March and stands as the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care, providing both hospice and palliative care. The new Pensacola location at 1212 Creighton Road is managed by Edith Beroldi, who started her healthcare journay as a nurse in VITAS’ inpatient unit in 1993. “It really prepares you for what’s going on, managing all these different people and patients,” said Beroldi in reference to her past. “But if I’m the closest available person, I’m willing to help a patient like I used to.” VITAS has established itself as the oldest hospice care service in Florida, and even their origins on a national scale extend back to 1978. They operate over 44 care facilities spread throughout 15 states and Washington, DC. They care for nearly 16,000 patients a day, with almost 11,000 employees, volunteers and service members spread throughout their offices. As opposed to a more traditional hospice care setting, Beroldi says what sets VITAS apart is that they are very attentiv to all of their patient’s needs. “We provide care wherever they call home, and the patient is the one who makes the schedule.” Regular hospice and palliative care includes things such as home doctors, visits from social workers and chaplains, and continuous care and pain-easement that differs by the needs of each patient. That being said, VITAS offers programs that set itself apart – especially within the Pensacola area. One example of these programs is Paw Pals. Animals of all sorts visit patients with their owners, in order to provide domestic affection the patient may be missing. Also of importance in the Pensacola area is the Veteran’s Program, where a recently-retired military veteran serves as a liaison to other retired veterans who are undergoing hospice care. Other programs include
Life Review, which is a program that creates a written, audio or video biography of the patient for their loved ones; Music Therapy, which helps ease worries and pain through the power of the patient’s favorite music; and Lavender Touch, a soothing hand massage that not only eases aches, but allows one-on-one interaction with a supportive caregiver. Beroldi also stressed the importance of their ‘mobile education van,’ which is designed to visit more rural areas in order to teach about the benefits of hospice care. “It’s really Hospice 101,” she said. “We cover a lot of topics, from advanced directives to receiving aid despite the distance.” The new VITAS location was created due to a certificate of need released by Medicaid, requesting a new hospice center open in the Northwest Florida region. VITAS applied for the certificate and recieved it, allowing them to begin operations in Pensacola. This first office is set to service Escambia, Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties, but plans to open additional offices in Ft. Walton and Milton will extend this coverage even more. “Our goal is to be an integral part of the Pensacola community, not just for our patients, but for their families living in the area,” said Nick Westfall, chief executive officer of VITAS Healthcare. “VITAS has had remarkable growth because of our exceptional caregivers and unique services, and the opening of this program is another opportunity to provide patients and their families with the highest quality of end-of-life care.” Many healthcare professionals, social workers, chaplains and other positions actively work with VITAS, volunteers are wel-
come and encouraged. “They do any number of things: from sewing blankets, to sitting with the patients,
to creating small ‘Memory Bears’ when the patient passes on,” said Beroldi. VITAS offers both hospice care – which requires that the patients be diagnosed with six months or less to live – and palliative care, which is designed for non-terminal ill patients who require an intermediary between them and their wide array of caregivers. Both of these can be done either inhome or inpatient, though Pensacola’s location focuses mainly on in-home care. VITAS doesn’t just focus on the patient with their care, but also the family as well. Hospice treatment can be difficult for all involved, but VITAS offers
caregiver support groups, grievance counseling, education and an overall sense of ease for the families who stay by their loved one’s side during this time. Beroldi and her employees are not going at it alone, as they have involved themselves with charities and organizations around the region to best offer their care. These include the Northwest Florida Rural Health Network’s support of their mobile education van, the Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida for food pantry
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VITAS has had remarkable growth because of our exceptional caregivers and unique services, and the opening of this program is another opportunity to provide patients and their families with the highest quality of end-of-life care.”
and delivery services, and the Alzheimer’s Association Alabama Florida Panhandle Chapter for respite care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. “We had a patient with severe Alzheimer’s who was unresponsive. They were visited by one of our volunteers doing our music therapy program, and when they started playing the patient’s favorite song, the patient recognized it and began singing along,” said Beroldi. “That was a very special moment for both the
patient and their family.” Above all, Beroldi said VITAS’ mission is to improve the quality of life for patients and their families through compassion, clinical expertise, strength and guidance to maximize comfort and preserve dignity. Both patients and their families alike have found comfort and solace in VITAS’ mission to make end-of-life care as easy and painless as possible. VITAS Healthcare’s offices are open and ready for business, or as Beroldi says, “We are ready to care.” For more information, visit vitas.com, facebook.com/ VITASHealthcare, or call 850-477-5586 at any time.