A Personal Physician
A personal physician will continue to provide services and collaborate with the hospice team to establish and oversee a plan of care.

A Hospice Physician
A hospice physician is a member of the hospice team who specializes in end-of-life care. They collaborate with the patient's primary physician and members of the hospice team to establish and oversee care plans.

Physician Newsletter 

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A Hospice Nurse
A hospice nurse may serve in a variety of roles including admission, case manager, and after hours and on-call nurse. The nurse will routinely visit the patient in the home to assess patient needs, manage medications, provide pain and symptom management, answer questions, and provide patient and family education. A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take patient calls and to visit as appropriate or as requested.

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Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide personal care to the patient including, assistance with bathing, feeding, toileting, ambulating, linen changes, and care to the patient's immediate surroundings. Blue Ridge Hospice CNAs are certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia and specialize in end-of-life care.  Read more

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Medical Social Workers
Medical social workers provide services to the terminally ill patient and family to assist the patient through emotional and psychological stages related to changes encountered at this phase of life. Social workers also provide training and support of the caregiver and family members. Read more

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Spiritual Support Staff Members
Spiritual support staff members are non-denominational, ordained clergy or lay persons with specialized training in end-of-life care. They provide prayer, presence, assistance with exploration of spiritual issues, and assistance with funeral planning. Staff may participate in funerals, memorial services, and provide rites and sacraments. Read more

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Complimentary Therapies
Complimentary therapies are services provided to patients but not reimbursed through Medicare. They include music, art, and massage therapies, and others, such as pet therapy.

• Music therapy is provided by a board certified music therapist with specialized training in end-of-life care. The music therapist will utilize a variety of interventions to provide pain and symptom management and to facilitate emotional, spiritual and physical aspects of end-of-life care.  Read more

For additional information, e-mail our music therapy department at musictherapy@blueridgehospice.org (540) 536-5210.

• Art therapy is provided by a trained art professional with specialized training in end-of-life care. They facilitate coping through artistic expression using a variety of therapeutic modalities.
• Pet therapy is provided by a certified pet therapist using a variety of animals to encourage open expression of emotions. In addition, they compliment other means of traditional pain and symptom management and facilitate the emotional, spiritual and physical expression of needs.
• Massage Therapy is provided by a certified massage therapist in accordance with the patient's care plan established by the patient's physician. Massage therapists assist with pain and symptom management through a variety of therapeutic techniques.

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Bereavement Counselors
Bereavement counselors provide grief and loss counseling to patients, families of deceased patients, and to the community. Individual support is provided to children and adults in a compassionate setting that encourages self-care and hope. Other grief services are provided to individuals and groups in a variety of settings including but not limited to homes, schools, churches and facilities. An annual Remembrance Service for hospice families and staff is held each fall. Bereavement literature, videos and tapes on grief and loss are available through the Blue Ridge Hospice lending library. Read more

For additional information, e-mail our bereavement department at bereavement@blueridgehospice.org or phone (540) 536-5210.

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Volunteers
Volunteers are used in a variety of capacities to support patients and families directly, as well as other aspects of the hospice organization. Patient care volunteers are members of the hospice team who specialize in end-of-life care. Read more

For additional information, e-mail our bereavement department at volunteering@blueridgehospice.org or phone (540) 536-5210.

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Speech, Physical, Occupational and Dietary Therapies
Speech, physical, occupational and dietary therapies are contracted by Blue Ridge Hospice to provide services based on need as identified in the patient's care plan. Read more

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In-Patient Hospice Care Services
When highly skilled, around-the-clock attention is needed, Hospice patients may be admitted to a hospital for in-patient care. Family and friends are encouraged to remain involved with care.

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