At NorthShore, we understand the importance of a holistic approach for patients and families experiencing end-of-life issues, loss and grief. When delivering these services, it is critical to maintain the continuum of care and ensure the dignity of our patients. Over the last few months, NorthShore has reviewed and made changes to its patient and family care through our Hospice and Palliative Care clinical areas.
In March 2022, with the goal of coordinating exceptional care across our care delivery continuum, NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health and Residential Healthcare Group, a division of Graham Healthcare Group, joined forces to expand patient and family access to our leading home health and hospice care across eight counties in Northern Illinois. Residential Home Health and Hospice (Residential) has managed these services at Edward-Elmhurst Health and has now expanded its operation to include NorthShore Home Health and Hospice and Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) Home Health.
Our new partnership enhances these meaningful patient and family services with more integral and patient-centered approaches, expertly delivered comfort care for an improved patient experience, augmented technologies for caregivers and family members supporting and monitoring at-home patients, and broader geographic reach. The NorthShore Hospice and Palliative Care staff from whom many patients found expertise, aid and comfort will continue in their roles with Residential.
With the introduction of the new organization, the NorthShore Foundation will no longer be accepting gifts for unrestricted hospice purposes. Instead, donor support of hospice-related clinical areas may be designated for the following two areas:
- Palliative Care—Comfort care for people with serious illness such as cancer. Donations will continue to support hospital-based care by physicians and advanced practice nurse specialists.
- Music Therapy—Music is a clinically proven, powerful form of art that contributes to healing and overall wellness. Gifts will continue to support clinically significant integrative treatment for hospitalized patients under care for a variety of serious, often life-ending conditions.
For our donors and families who have formerly arranged unrestricted or planned gifts designated for NorthShore’s hospice services, please contact the NorthShore Foundation at (224) 364-7200 or philanthropy@northshore.org. We gratefully appreciate your support for patients and families in need of these important services.
