Suncoast Hospice & Morton Plant North Bay Hospital Form Palliative Care Partnership

Suncoast Hospice and Morton Plant North Bay Hospital have launched a joint palliative care program for patients at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital.  The palliative model of care offers an interdisciplinary team approach and in this case, Suncoast Hospice provides a palliative care physician while Morton Plant North Bay Hospital staffs a social worker and chaplain.  

Palliative care focuses on helping patients attain physical comfort as well as emotional and spiritual well-being and is intended to enhance quality of life.  It extends beyond patients to assist their families as they help to address patient care concerns.  Palliative care concentrates on resolving pain and other physical symptoms, emotional and spiritual concerns, nutritional problems, difficult medical decisions and care needs post hospital discharge.   It takes into consideration patient/family culture, religious and spiritual beliefs and can be especially beneficial to those with chronic illnesses and conditions.  Palliative care and curative care may be offered concurrently.  

Hal Ziecheck, president of Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, said, “Suncoast Hospice has a proven record in quality, compassionate palliative care.  I am confident that our patients and their families will benefit from this collaborative partnership.”

A number of other BayCare Health System hospitals have palliative care partnerships with Suncoast Hospice as well.  They are – Morton Plant, Clearwater; Mease Countryside, Safety Harbor; Mease Dunedin; and BayCare Alliant, Dunedin.