Community Hospices Earns Highest Rating for Outstanding Patient Care

(Elkton, MD – June 4, 2010)  The Cecil County office of Community Hospice of Maryland has earned the highest satisfaction rating possible on a voluntary survey of the patients and families they serve. The Patient and Family Satisfaction Rating surveys were collected during a six-month period by DEYTA, an independent research firm. The surveys show one hundred percent satisfaction with Community Hospice’s services including patient comfort and medication, personalized care, coordination of care, home medical equipment and support for family and friends.

 Hospice is a concept of care that focuses on comfort rather than cures for people with terminal illnesses.  Care is given wherever people live: in their own homes, with relatives or friends, in long-term care or assisted living facilities or in hospitals.

 Susan Bramble, Clinical Service Manager of Community Hospice for Cecil County, said, “It’s a privilege to serve our patients and their loved ones. They’re our friends and we treat them like members of our own families.”  Ms. Bramble continues, “We understand how important it is to treat our patients as whole people – not just as their diagnoses. That’s what we mean when we say that we give compassionate care.”

 Hospice includes care for the physical aspects of end of life as well as the spiritual, mental, emotional and social aspects as well. The hospice team – a physician, nurses, social worker, home health aides, chaplain, bereavement counselor and trained volunteers – are available to offer guidance and support 24-hours-a-day and make regularly scheduled visits.

Accoding to Ms. Bramble, her entire staff is responsible for Community Hospices achieving the outstanding rating from hospice patients and their families. “We work closely as a team to provide the best care possible for our patients in whatever time they have left,” she said.

 The Washington Home & Community Hospices has served people who are elderly, chronically or terminally ill since 1888 and currently serves residents of Cecil, Hartford, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore City in Maryland.  Services are also provided to residents of the District of Columbia and Virginia.  For more information about service in your area, call Community Hospice of Cecil County at 410.392.3750 or visit www.communityhospice.org.