What is hospice?
Hospice provides comfort and dignity and respects human life from beginning to end for patients who have a six month or less life expectancy and are accepting of comfort care.

Goals of hospice

• Holistic pain and symptom management
• Compassionate emotional and spiritual support
• Education
• Support and respite for caregivers
• Grief and bereavement follow-up

Recordable storybooks leave a powerful legacy
A St. Cloud Hospital Hospice patient recorded her touching story.
View the video

Hospice Newsletter
Hospice Reflections - Fall 2012 (PDF)
Hospice Reflections - Fall 2011 (PDF)
Hospice Reflections - Fall 2010 (PDF)
Hospice Reflections - Fall 2009 (PDF)
Hospice Reflections - Fall 2008 (PDF)

Hospice Team
Hospice uses the combined specialties of a team of health care professionals to assist patients in the final stages of life. The focus of care is the patient and family as a unit. The hospice team includes: the patient’s physician, nurses, social workers, chaplain, hospice volunteers, massage therapists, home health aides and rehabilitation therapy, as needed.
View a diagram of the hospice team (PDF)

Accreditation
St. Cloud Hospital Hospice Services is licensed by the state of Minnesota, certified by Medicare and accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. These regulatory agencies provide assurance that you will receive the highest quality of care.

Insurance Coverage
Most insurers cover hospice care. Hospice care charges will be submitted to your insurance company (Medicare, Medicaid, and/or private insurance). No one will be denied care because of an inability to pay.

Referrals
A referral to the hospice can be made for all ages by the patient’s physician, the patient or family members. Family members and significant others assume primary responsibility for patient care.

Comparison of Services
Do you have questions about the differences between home care, palliative care and hospice care and when each might be appropriate?
View a comparison of services chart (PDF)

“Above all things care, must be taken of the sick as if they were Christ in person.”
(Rule of St. Benedict, Ch.36)