West Bay Rotary Club - September 17

September 17, 2015

West Bay Rotary

 

The Sussman House

Lauren Michalakas, MD – Medical Director

Kim Marquis, RN – Hospice House Manager

Sarah Dwelley, RN – Palliative Care Coordinator

 

Sarah Dwelley – History

2001 the conversation began with Pen Bay Healthcare leadership about this program.  Funding issues made this project very challenging – sat on the shelf.  Idea got revived in 2009 – opened in in December 2014.  Funded 100% by charitable contributions - Only three hospice centers of this kind in the State of Maine.

 

Kim Marquis

The Sussman House is located at 40 Anchor Drive

Working at the Sussman House has been a life changing experience for Kim

 

Lauren Michelakas, MD

Medical Director since June

Opening of the Sussman House represented the realization of a shared dream of many people.  Dr. Michaleakas has practiced Hospice and Palliative care for over 20 years.

Hospice Care delivered in a facility like Sussman is the purest form of this type of care.

 

The Sussman House is just a building – but it is a powerful tangiable symbol of a community that cares.

 

How many patients can you accommodate at a time?  7 Suites

 

What are the services provided for the family?  Hospice care, emotional & spiritual care for families.  Families are encouraged to treat the House like home. 

 

Do you provide counseling for funerals, wills?

Yes we have a social worker that helps with the details.  Everyone is at a different stage when they arrive at the Sussman House.  We direct folks to the right people

 

What is the Hospice Medicare Benefit – Home, general inpatient (how the Sussman house is reimbursed) .  Not a long term facility – average length of stay is about 10 days. 

 

How are you going to financially sustain this organization?

Good end of life care saves money – by providing the type of care that people want.  Within ACA there is a strong initiative to incorporate palliative care.  If we align their goals, values, wishes in advance of the decline it helps us to provide the highest level of care.  The Pen Bay Foundation supports the day-to-day operation of the Sussman House.  Charitable contributions in memory of a loved one can be sent to the Pen Bay Foundation, 22 White Street, Rockland, ME 04841

 

How do we know when it’s right to use hospice – Life limiting condition, reaching the end of their life and struggling with symptoms.  Respite services are also available to the community.

 

 

 

How do you recruit for hospice employee?

Every single patient they see dies within short period of time.  Patients are always in a state of decline.  The beauty is trying to understand what is inside.  Is it for everyone? probably not.  End of life is a precious time – by the time they have gotten to this point, they have lost everything.  You see a person in their purest state. 

 

What is the long term plan to sustain this facility?

None of these facilities make money.  It is amazing that this facility was built as a result of community want/need.  Palliative Care is the service line – the Sussman House is just one piece of the palliative care program.  If we integrate palliative care values upstream, we are going to save money in the long term. 

 

Geography

Midcoast

 

How do you determine whether there is a need for the facility?  Who decides?

Sarah sits in the hospital and she works with physicians to assess whether patients are appropriate.  We move them pretty quickly.

 

Next Week

We will hear about Restorative Justice

 

International Committee – next Wednesday 8 am in the church living room