Support and Coping with Cancer   /   Hospice Care & Bereavement

The Penn Wissahickon Hospice Mission

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The Penn Wissahickon Hospice's mission is to comfort and support patients and families who are experiencing a life-limiting illness. The mission is pursued in four ways:

Service

Providing quality home-based and in-patient hospice care to terminally ill adults and children and their families in the Greater Delaware Valley through an interdisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers in accordance with hospice principles and without regard to the patient's diagnosis or ability to pay. Hospice principles place emphasis on pain and symptom control, spiritual and emotional support, and palliative care rather than curative treatment, with continuing bereavement support for the family where desired. Hospice seeks neither to prolong life nor hasten death. Its objective is to work with a patient and the patient's family, physician and friends so that the patient may die in comfort and in familiar surroundings, without pain, at peace and, to the extent possible, reconciled.

Public Awareness

Making the community aware of hospice principles and the availability of hospice programs and services.

Education

Educating health providers about hospice principles, programs and services.

Research

Initiating or encouraging research to develop, evaluate, or modify hospice policies and services.