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Meet Our Team
Attending Physicians:
The patient's attending physician continues to provide for the medical needs of the Hospice patient. They provide the initial order for evaluation and will direct the care provided by the Hospice Team.
Interdisciplinary Team:
The care provided through hospice is coordinated through an interdisciplinary team approach. The members of the interdisciplinary team include: Patient and Family, Patient's Primary Physician, Hospice Medical Director, Pharmacist, Skilled Nurses, Home Health Aides, Social Worker, Chaplain, and Volunteers. Care is planned and managed through a collaborative effort with the members of the team providing input related to their role and expertise. The patient is the driving force of the interdisciplinary team and the goal of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team is to ensure the patient had the greatest quality of life possible.
Hospice Medical Director: Chris Herndon, MD
Dr. Herndon supervises the medical aspects of patient care at Chisholm Trail Hospice. He confirms eligibility and statement of prognosis for patients admitted. Through his interactions at interdisciplinary team meetings he assists in development of the patients' plan of care. Dr. Herndon is an active member of the American Acadamy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and routinely attends organized programs to increase his understanding of Hospice and palliative care to improve end-of-life care.
As a team, the nurses of Chisholm Trail Hospice assess the patient's physical needs, perform skilled procedures, teach family members and other caregivers the skills needed for relieving pain and other symptoms, coordinate the provision of medical equipment, supplies, and medications, communicate with the attending physician, and respond to patient and family emergencies. A Hospice nurse is "on call" 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Home Health Aides
The Home Health Aides provide personal care and services that are needed to maintain the patient's health. The services are provided on an intermittent basis and based on the needs of the patient and their family. Personal care services include:
- Bathing, dressing, grooming
- Caring for the hair
- Nail and oral hygiene
- Shaving
- Deodorant application
- Skin care with lotions and/or powder
- Foot care
They may also assist the patient with feeding, elimination (use of bedpan, routine catheter care, and emptying colostomy bag), ambulating, changing position in bed and transfers.
Other services may include: remaking bed, changing linens, straightening work area, snack or light meal preparation, shopping and laundry.
The nurse's aides are not allowed to cut nails, give enemas, or administer any type of medication.
Social Worker:
The Hospice social worker offers emotional support, assist with financial concerns, and assists to arrange for social service assistance.
Chaplain:
The Hospice Chaplain offers emotional support, assist with financial concerns, and assists to arrange for social service assistance.
Bereavement Staff offers support to family members as individuals or groups for one year or more following the patient's death.
Patient Care Volunteers visit families assisting with day-to-day tasks, providing caregiver relief, and offering emotional support through "friendly visiting."
Office Volunteers help assist with the day-to-day operation of the office.
Ancillary Therapies such as physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, and dietary counseling are provided when medically indicated.