News & Announcements

Agency Receives State License to Accept Patients

July 09, 2010

Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois

Receives Nod from State to Accept Patients

at New Hospice Home

Hospice & Palliative Care of  Northeastern Illinois (HPNI) received approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health to accept patients into its new Pepper Family Hospice Home and Center for Care, effective Monday, July 12. 

The licensing approval followed an extensive evaluation completed by an IDPH surveyor. The survey process included review of new policies and procedures relating to the care of patients and staffing for the new facility, as well as a thorough review of clinical and non-clinical areas of the building.

"We were prepared for the survey and very pleased with the results," said Jennifer Jurkowski, quality and risk manager.

HPNI CEO Cindy Musikantow agreed. "We are so pleased to be able to begin providing our services to people who need this very specialized care," she said.  "Being able to offer this extended level of care to our patients has been a dream of many of our supporters for years. It further affirms our mission of enhancing life by providing dignified and compassionate care and guidance to those facing serious illness, end of life and loss."

Effective Monday, July 12, patients who meet the following criteria will be accepted:

•           If a patient's pain and/or symptoms include any of the following: unrelieved pain, severe nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, anxiety or panic attacks and require a more acute level of care, or

•           If a patient has other symptoms or side-effects that cannot be managed in the home.

A patient's stay in this facility is considered short term. The hospice team provides constant assessment and monitoring while working with the patient's attending physician.  Once the patient's symptoms are under control, or their caregiver issues are resolved, the patient is discharged to return home-- wherever they call home-- whether it's a private residence, nursing home or long-term care facility.

            "The hard work is over," said Daneen Gorski-Adams, RN, CHPN, director of hospice home clinical care. "Now we can do the work that we all came here to do--to take care of patients."

For more information about admission to the hospice home, call 800-425-4444. 

About Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois

Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization serving families throughout McHenry, Lake, Northwest Cook, Kane, Boone and DuPage counties.  Celebrating its 28th year of service, the agency provides comprehensive end-of-life care to nearly 1,400 patient families each year.  HPNI is Medicare certified and accredited by the Joint Commission. For information, visit its web site at www.HospiceAnswers.org.