Hospice Model Shines In The Healthcare World

ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA) -- Eight months ago Ruth Martindale's family came to a crossroads when it was clear that her health was deteriorating.

"Her physician recommended that we think about hospice," said her daughter and caretaker Linda Fay. "She did it on her own time. We just sat there and talked through the whole issue. My mother hates being in the hospital she didn't want to go back in the hospital."

For Fay, a physician, she had reservations that stemmed from the unknown, not knowing what services were offered and how they were coordinated.

"I was pretty much alone in the world in some ways," she said. "I really didn't want the responsibility of being my mother's physician. But inevitably, there'd been one crisis after another."

Now Fay has a whole team to help her with each crisis. Martindale elected to receive help from Capitol Hospice, one of the oldest hospice care groups in the country. From Susan the nurse, Chip the chaplain, Tracy the social worker and Dr. Willner, there are many people who help Fay manage her illness.

"Hospice is a team," said Fay. It's not an institution. It's not a place. It's a process."

If you ask employees at Capitol Hospice, they'll go even further and call it a philosophy.

"People don't understand that its about living. " said Dr. Cameron Muir, a specialist in palatable care. " It's about great care. It's about maximizing treatments that help you to be comfortable."

Palatable care was only recently recognized as a medical subspecialty in 2006. It's a treatment that aims to lessen the severity of a serious disease when cure is no longer possible.

"Fifteen years ago, there were very few physicians who would say this is my life's work," said Muir.

But over the years, an aging population combined with a culture that prefers home care comfort and a model that achieves holistic health along with efficiency has launched hospice care into a more visible and more popular limelight.

"Hospice is the fastest growing part of medicare," said Bill Dombi of the National Organization of Home Care and Hospice. "It began as a volunteer concept in the late '70's. When for profit hospice services came along, their game was sharpened."

Dombi described how a non-profit's "business savvy combined with a model of compassionate care" illustrated the promise of profit.

While it's unclear how healthcare reform will affect hospice under a Senate plan, the House plan would cut payment rates across the board indiscriminately.

Still, Dombi predicts even with that money lost, hospice will still be seen as one of the most attractive business ventures in healthcare. The predictability of payment rates coupled with the current demographics indicate potential, he said.

"Private equity investors still see value in hospice," he said.

When it comes to patients, the benefits have nothing to do with financing. They see it as a bottom line win-win situation.

"I'm so thankful for these people," said Martindale during a home visit with her hospice nurse Susan. "They are my family."