Description:

At Cardinal Hospice, our volunteers provide top-quality patient care and support services, according to their particular experience and training, in compliance with organization policies.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary group amid various settings: home care; respite; inpatient, bereavement and/or administrative; office duties.
• Participates in general orientation.
• Serves the patient and family/caregiver under guidance of Volunteer Coordinator and Case Manager or as a part of the administrative team.
• Serves as substitute family/caregiver in the home performing activities that the volunteer has been prepared for and has agreed to perform. The volunteer may do homemaker chores, run errands, and provide respite care as well.
• Documents as educated and instructed maintaining confidentiality.
• Meets all health requirements set by Cardinal Hospice.
• Provides availability on a regular basis and/or keeping with the patient and family/caregiver needs.
• Participates in volunteer support groups and/or educational in-services.
• Maintains open communication and reports regularly to the Volunteer Coordinator.
• Assignment of other duties (as needed) directed by the Volunteer Coordinator.
• Participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Participates in interdisciplinary group meetings, as appropriate.

Position Qualifications:

• Mature individual, supportive of the hospice concept, comfortable with his/her own spirituality and willing to serve others in a volunteer capacity.
• Successful completion of the hospice’s volunteer training and orientation program.
• Previous volunteer experience may be helpful.
• Ability to work within the interdisciplinary group.
• If making home visits, must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.

Description:

At Cardinal Hospice, a registered nurse (RN) plans, organizes, and directs hospice care. They are compassionate and skilled, with a specific emphasis on community health education/experience. The professional hospice nurse creates and follows care plans, utilizes available resources, and directs services to meet the needs of terminally ill individuals and their families, within their homes and communities.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

Patient Care

• Completes an initial, comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
• Provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of nursing process.
• Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by:
  • Writing and initiating plan of care
  • Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs
  • Participating in revising the plan of care as necessary
• Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
• Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions. Includes the patient and the family in the planning process.
• Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care.
• Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
• Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan.
• Assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care.
• Acts as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload.

Communication

• Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given. Records pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate.
• Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required.
• Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.
• Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate. Provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers. Works in concert with the interdisciplinary group.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
• Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
• Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
• Attends interdisciplinary group meetings.

Additional Duties

• Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy.
• Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services ​are available.
• Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required.
• Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and inservice classes.
• Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments.
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.

Description:

Hospice aides (CNAs) at Cardinal Hospice are paraprofessional members of the interdisciplinary group who works under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) and performs various services for patients, as necessary, to meet the patient's personal needs and to promote comfort. The hospice aide is responsible for observing the patient, reporting these observations, as well as documenting these observations and the care performed. The hospice aide will be assigned in a manner that promotes quality, continuity and safety of ​a patient's care.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

Responsibilities of the hospice aide include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Performing personal care needs after given a patient's assignment and attending to his/her requests promptly. If unable to perform a certain task, report to the Case Manager immediately.
• Providing patient and family with positive communication techniques, within realm of ethical and respectful care, including confidentiality.
• Meeting safety needs of patient and using equipment safely and properly (foot stools, side rails, O2 etc.).
• Giving personal care including baths, back rubs, oral hygiene, shampoos and changing bed linen as often as assigned.
• Assisting in dressing and undressing patients as assigned.
• Planning and preparing nutritious meals, including shopping, as assigned.
• Assisting in feeding the patient as assigned.
• Taking and recording oral, rectal and auxiliary temperatures, pulse, respiration and blood pressure when ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency.
• Providing proper care and observation of patient's skin to prevent breakdown of tissue over bony prominence.
• Assessing and reporting on patient's condition and significant changes to the Case Manager. Also aware of the caregiver or other individuals living with the patient and interpersonal issues.
• Assisting in ambulation and exercise as instructed by the hospice nurse or therapist.
• Provide normal range of motion and transfers/positioning as directed.
• Assistance with self-administered medications as allowed by state regulations, such as “reminders.”
• Offering and assisting with bedpans and urinals. Providing assistance as assigned with light laundry needs.
• Performing range of motion and other simple procedures as an extensional therapy service as ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency.
• Providing respite for patient's/family/caregiver when on-site, as appropriate.
• Keeping patient's living area clean and orderly, as assigned.
• Adhering to the organization's documentation and care procedures and standards of personal and professional conduct.
• Participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Respectful of patient and family/caregiver environment and patient's personal needs.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Qualifications:

• Meets the training requirements of the State.
• Completed a minimum of 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training. Sixteen hours of class room must be completed prior to a mandatory 16 hours of practical training.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Ability to read and follow written instructions and document care given.
• Understands hospice philosophy, comfortable providing specialized care to the terminally ill.
• Satisfactory references from previous employers.
• Is self-directing with the ability to work with little direct supervision. Secure with issues of death/dying. Provides a calm manner when in a patient’s home.
• Has empathy for the needs of the ill, injured, frail and the impaired.

Description:

A Hospice Chaplain is responsible for providing spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers of Cardinal Hospice, either directly or through coordination of care with other counselors. The ongoing support and ministry of the chaplain, along with other dedicated professionals, are essential to holistic end-of-life care.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Assures spiritual assessment of patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program and appropriate services are rendered in a timely manner.
• Facilitates the development of the individualized the plan of care by participating in the comprehensive assessment to meet identified spiritual needs.
• Provides direct spiritual care to patients and families/caregivers.
• Serves as liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
• Maintains records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policies and procedures review and revision.
• Documents direct services and ongoing communication with community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
• Attends patient care conference and interdisciplinary group meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary group.
• Provides consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary group on spiritual care.
• Recruits community chaplains, spiritual counselors, and spiritual care volunteers adequate to meet patient and family/caregiver needs by developing community contacts and offering education through congregations about hospice care.
• Provides for funeral or memorial services for patients as requested.
• Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of personnel, volunteers, and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the hospice team.
• Assists in supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/families/caregivers.
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:

• Graduate of accredited seminary or school of theology (BD, MDiv or equivalent theological degree). Experience working with death and dying, individuals/family/caregiver.
• Ability to work as member of interdisciplinary group.
• Comfort in an interfaith setting.
• Ability to accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, and values.
• Ability to network with community clergy and congregations.
• Knowledge of and commitment to hospice philosophy of care.
• Hospice/ experience preferred. 1-4 CE credits based on State/Federal requirements.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.

Description:

The social worker contracted or employed by Cardinal Hospice is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for medical social work services and for adherence to all conditions in the Service or Employment Agreement. They also provide assessment and evaluation of the psychosocial aspects of hospice patient care to ensure patients and their families are being served and cared for as effectively as possible.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Assesses the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness and environment and communicates findings to the registered nurse and other members of the interdisciplinary group. Provides an assessment in the patient's identified residence and assistance when this is not safe and another plan is required.
• Carries out social evaluations, including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, high-risks for suicide, neglect or abuse and plans intervention based on evaluation findings. Counsels patient and family/caregivers as needed in relationship to stress, and other identified coping difficulties. Provides crisis intervention when necessary.
• Assesses for, and educates interdisciplinary group, on any special needs related to the culture of the patient and family. Includes communication, role of family, space, and any special traditions or taboos.
• Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
• Educates patients and families on, and assists in, preparation of advanced directives.
• Provides information and referral services for organization patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs.
• Provides information to patients and families/caregivers and community agencies.
• Serves as liaison between patients and families/caregivers and community agencies.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with organization personnel to support patient care.
• Maintains and develops contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patient and personnel.
• Participates in the development of the individualized plan of care, involving the patient and family, and attends regularly scheduled interdisciplinary group meetings, assisting the team in recognizing the effects of the psychosocial stresses on the symptoms of the terminal illness.
• Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems and death/dying issues.
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Assists family and patient in planning for funeral arrangements, financial, legal, and health care decision responsibilities.
• Other duties as delegated by the Clinical Supervisor.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Qualifications:

• A graduate of a bachelor’s/master’s program in social work accredited by the Council on ​Social Work Education. Meets personnel qualifications stated in §418.114(b)(3). LCSW preferred.
• Minimum of one (1) year's experience in health care, hospice experience preferred. Understands hospice philosophy, and issues of death/dying.
• Experience in hospice care preferred.
• Demonstrates good verbal and written communication, and organization skills.
• Possesses and maintains current CPR Certification.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.