Right Choice - St. Nicholas Hospital

Home Health services through St. Nicholas Hospital Home
Health and Hospice are available within a 30 mile radius
of St. Nicholas Hospital. Referrals to Home Health can be
made by physicians, families, or a prospective client him/
herself. A specialized home health Liaison will work with
individuals to determine eligibility and arrange for services.
Care is available on an intermittent basis, 24 hours a day,
seven days a week and a Registered Nurse is only a phone
call away around the clock for those admitted into services.
Home Health services are supported in part by the United
Way and in keeping with the mission, vision, and values of
St. Nicholas Hospital; no one will be turned away regardless
of ability to pay.
Hospice Services
The Hospice program at St. Nicholas Hospital Home
Health and Hospice is also a state-licensed, Medicare
certified, and Joint Commission accredited program that
offers care to those individuals in our community that are
facing a life limiting illness. Hospice services are available to
anyone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, has
a limited life expectancy and are no longer seeking curative
treatment. Hospice services are appropriate for those
suffering from cancer, end stage cardiac or respiratory
conditions, AIDS, end stage renal disease, and other
illnesses that are life limiting.
Hospice recognizes dying as part of the normal process of
living and focuses on maintaining the quality of life
remaining. Hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor
postpones death. It exists in the hope and belief that,
through appropriate care and the promotion of a caring
community sensitive to personal needs, patients and their
families may be free to attain a degree of mental and
spiritual preparation for death that is satisfactory to them.
The Hospice team, consisting of the patient’s own physician,
a Medical Director, nurses, social workers, counselors and
spiritual care representative, works with the patient, family
and caregivers to develop a plan of care that meets the
needs of everyone involved. Hospice care seeks to relieve
symptoms, provide emotional support, and most
importantly, allow a person to live their remaining days
with dignity in the setting of their choosing. Hospice is
provided wherever the patient calls home.
Palliative Care
The Palliative Care program at St. Nicholas Home Health
and Hospice is available to those who have been diagnosed
with a life limiting or chronic illness but are still seeking
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curative treatment and may have a life expectancy that is
greater than six months. Palliative Care focuses on symptom
management and retention of independence with the goal
of preventing re-hospitalization. Palliative Care services
include the availability of nursing visits, home health aide
visits for personal care, social worker consultation for future
planning or assistance in accessing community resources,
pastoral support, homemaking services and volunteer
services. Palliative Care is typically a private pay service as
it is not reimburseable by Medicare, Medicaid, or most
private insurances. A member of the Palliative Care team is
available for consultation to discuss payment arrangements
and services available.
Intensive/Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU)
The Intensive/Cardiac Care Unit is designed for patients
who require very close observation and intensive nursing
care around-the-clock. All staff members are certified in
advanced cardiac life support; some are also certified in
critical care nursing, and pediatric advanced life support.
Intensive monitoring is provided for all patients so that staff
may quickly assess and respond to any changes. In addition,
other forms of hemodynamic monitoring may be utilized,
depending on the patient’s condition. Special procedures such
as medical and electrical cardioversions, tilt table studies,
intra-aortic balloon pumps, temporary pacemakers, and
transesophageal echocardiograms are performed in ICCU.
Patients who are having cardiac catheterization and
electrophysiology studies are also cared for here.
Medical Director of Cardiac Services: Louie Coulis, MD
Medical Director of Pulmonary and Cardiopulmonary
Services: Philip M. DeTrana, MD
Laboratory
The St. Nicholas Hospital Laboratory provides timely,
cost-effective diagnostic pathology and laboratory services
for Hospital patients, outpatients, and outreach patients in
community physicians’ offices. Round-the-clock service is
offered for emergency testing. Outpatient testing hours are
6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cholesterol,
blood glucose, and lipid tests for the public are available
7:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday through the
St. Nicholas Hospital Community Education Department
(see page 36). The laboratory is accredited by the College
of American Pathologists and the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Medical Director: Robert Cutlan, MD
Lifeline®
The Lifeline ® personal emergency response system links
individuals with serious medical concerns to 24 hour
emergency assistance at the push of a button. Users of all
ages who are recovering from surgery, temporarily or
permanently bedridden, or experiencing heart or other
medical problems can benefit from this service. Users wear
a small button and a call for help is sent immediately to the
St. Nicholas Hospital in-house emergency response center.
Lifeline gives both its user and their families an added sense
of security and peace of mind by knowing that help is
available 24 hours a day, at the push of a button. Call
920/457-5770 for more information.
® Lifeline is registered to Lifeline Systems, Inc.
Medical/Surgical Services
Whenever you
need inpatient
hospital care, you
can be assured
St. Nicholas
Hospital will
provide you and
your loved ones
with the highest
quality care. Your nursing care is planned by professional
registered nurses and provided by a staff of registered nurses
and certified nursing assistants according to your physician’s
directions. We are dedicated to making sure that you are
receiving the best care. We are able to provide a continuum
of care from hospitalization to home by using other
resources available in the hospital such as physical
or occupational therapy, case management, and home
health care.
The inpatient unit at St. Nicholas Hospital features
state-of-the-art wireless technology. Comfortable, private
patient rooms are equipped with cable television, and
telephones for your convenience. Meals are prepared in
the Hospital kitchen to meet dietary specifications, if any,
outlined by your physician. A registered dietitian is
available for consultation upon request (see Nutrition
Services, page 41). Members of the St. Nicholas Hospital
Pastoral Care staff are available to provide spiritual and
emotional support. Visiting hours are from 11:00 a.m.-
8:00 p.m. daily. It is recommended that visitors under age
16 be accompanied by an adult.
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Nutrition Services
Nutrition is an important part of care at St. Nicholas
Hospital. Registered dietitians assess and monitor the
nutritional status of all patients. Following physicians’ orders
and in collaboration with a pharmacist, they recommend and
implement changes in patient diets, including tube feedings.
Registered dietitians also educate patients with special
nutritional needs, for example, those with diabetes, renal,
pulmonary, or cardiac conditions. Individual outpatient
nutrition consultations are also available to assist individuals
in achieving healthy eating behaviors. The Center offers a
year-long weight management program called CHANGE
and a quarterly Gastric Bypass Support Group.
Occupational Health Services
St. Nicholas Hospital offers convenient, cost-effective, and
comprehensive occupational health services tailored to
meet both employee and employer health needs. With an
ultimate goal of maintaining healthy workforces and workplaces,
St. Nicholas Hospital Occupational Health Services
facilitates and enhances awareness of and compliance with
workplace safety regulations and injury prevention.
Treatment for injured workers is available 24 hours a
day; other occupational health services are offered during
normal business hours at the Hospital or at the workplace.
Among the occupational services offered are:
• Consultation Services
• Drug/Alcohol Testing
DOT
Follow-up
Pre-employment
Post-accident
Random
Suspicion
Consortium