When a loved one is diagnosed with an advanced disease, such as cancer, end-stage cardiac disease, end-stage renal disease or any serious illness, and he or she is ready to come home, what type of home care program is right -- Home Health or Hospice? Typically, Home Health provides the physical treatment required by the patient; Hospice care does not provide "curative" treatment, but has specialized expertise in pain and symptom management.

BJC Home Care has combined the physical treatment of Home Health care with the pain and symptom management provided by our Hospice program. This blended program is BJC Palliative Home Care Program, which gives adult homebound patients with an advanced illness a third choice. Palliative Home Care is the active, total care of adult patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Ideally, palliative care is introduced gradually as the focus shifts from curative to comfort.

Adult palliative care, also known as supportive care, is provided by registered nurses, social workers, home health aides, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists, who offer:

• Pain and symptom management
• Chemotherapy side effects management (constipation, anemia, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, neuropathies)
• Skin care and wound care, including care to irradiated sites and decubitus wound care
• Lab work
• Total parenteral nutrition (TPN), Pleurx® pleural catheter care and wound VACS (Vacuum Assisted Closure System)
• Education to caregivers
• Expertise in reimbursement (Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance)

Staff members act as advocates for patients and physicians, ensuring quality and continuity of care.

To qualify, the patient must:

• Have a progressive, advanced disease
• Be 21 or older
• Have a physician order for this type of care
• Have a need for skilled nursing, physical therapy, or speech and language pathology
• Meet homebound status criteria for home health