By Nicole Falco
The center, run by the Hospice Care Network, HCN, in conjunction with Franklin, officially opened on June 25. Since then the center's staff of doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, pastoral care providers and bereavement counselors have provided "comfort care" to more than 80 terminally ill patients in the center's 12-bed facility.
According to HCN, Franklin is the first hospital in Nassau County to open a wing to specifically offer in-patient, palliative care to patients with any kind of "end of life" illness.
HCN, a not-for-profit organization that has been affiliated with the North Shore-LIJ Health System since 1999, has been offering in-home hospice & palliative care since 1988 to approximately 350 patients daily in the city and on Long Island.
"Patients and there families really just want comfort, pain management and peace of mind. The main thing is people will die with dignity surrounded by the people they love most in life," said Joan Creighton, RN, director of Patient Care Services for the Medical Surgery Unit at Franklin.
According to Meg Wehrum, an RN for hospice and oncology at Franklin, the center was an idea that really became a reality only in the past six months. Wehrum added that the center is meant to be a "home away from home" for patients at the end of their lives.
Margaret Walsh, 63, a patient since the center opened, which is not typical, has decorated her room with pictures of her husband, Bob, their five children, granddaughter and friends.
"She sits there and tells me where to put each one," Bob said.
Bob and his children have also decorated Margaret's room with her prized tea pot collection and other knickknacks.
Margaret, a former alto with the St. John's University Adult Choir, first battled breast cancer in 1994. Last year, she was told the cancer had spread to her bones.
"The care here has been outstanding. The people here are very thoughtful. If you have questions they find answers without keeping you waiting," Margaret said.
Dr. Ed Hallbridge, medical director of the unit, has been known to prescribe patients a glass of wine or beer or a birthday cake; staff dietitians will cook a patient whatever is requested; rooms are private; patients have free telephone and television service; rooms have "pull-out" sofas next to each bed for family members; patients are encouraged to decorate their rooms; and family members can visit 24 hours a day.
Josephine O'Brien has lived at her daughter Debbie's side for more than three weeks. Debbie, 46, was recently admitted to the center after the breast cancer she was diagnosed with in May 2000 and had a mastectomy for, spread to her leg.
"I've been staying here and sleeping here for three weeks now. ... I could never take care of her at home. I just go home to pay bills and take care of things," O'Brien said.
"The center doesn't prolong life, it doesn't hasten death, it just makes life more comfortable," said Laurie Carollo, an RN who works as a liaison between HCN and Franklin.
Franklin did admit hospice patients before, but there wasn't a dedicated unit.
"The census [of hospice patients] kept going up and we decided we needed to do something to meet their needs," Creighton said.
The End-of-Life-Care Law, passed by the New York State legislature in 1999, paved the way for a center, such as the one at Franklin.
The bill insures terminally ill patients the right to be admitted to a hospice and palliative care facility, first of all if they want admittance, if their physician recommends it and if the facility's medical director approves it; the insurance companies must agree to the admission and payment for the patient's stay. If disputed, the insurance company bears the burden of proving why the patient shouldn't be admitted.
Prior to the law, the patient had to prove why he should be admitted. In most cases there was little time to do so before the patient succumbed to illness.
