A resting place for pilgrims as life's pilgrimage ends

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• End-of-Life Studies
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• The transition from hospital to hospice care represents a significant shift in medical focus from curative to palliative measures.
• End-of-life care is often shadowed by existential concerns, as described by Ernest Becker.
• St. Mary's in Birmingham emphasizes human dignity and destiny in its approach to terminal care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the philosophical underpinnings of hospice care.
• To describe the shift in focus from curing to caring at the end of life.
• To provide insight into the administrator's perspective on hospice services.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative reflection on hospice care principles.
• Exploration of the administrator's role and perspective.
• Discussion of the transition from curative to palliative care.

Main Results:

• Hospice care at St. Mary's is guided by a philosophy centered on human dignity and destiny.
• The administrator's perspective frames hospice as a critical phase where caring supersedes curing.
• The abstract emphasizes the psychological and existential aspects of end-of-life care.

Conclusions:

• Hospice care is a distinct and essential component of the healthcare continuum.
• A focus on dignity and destiny can profoundly impact the end-of-life experience.
• The transition to hospice signifies a crucial shift in patient care priorities.