Willowbrook Hospice

Interdisciplinary Team

A medically directed team of professionals provides hospice services.  This team includes physicians, nurses, social workers, hospice aides, spiritual support counselors, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, trained volunteers and bereavement counselors. Hospice care is delivered on an intermittent basis as needed.

Hospice FAQ		 hospice27e

MEDICAL TEAM:

Medical Director:

Dr. Angela L. Willis, our Medical Director, has a private practice in the Nashville area.  Dr. Willis, who is very experienced in palliative medicine, provides medical direction to our team and is available to consult with the patient’s attending physician. The patient’s attending physician and Willowbrook’s interdisciplinary team work together to develop an individual plan of care.

Nurses:

A Willowbrook Hospice nurse is assigned to each patient. Our nurses specialize in palliative care, which focuses on comfort measures rather than a cure. They provide the patient and family with information concerning the illness while helping to manage the pain and symptoms of the disease. Nurses make
intermittent visits to monitor and evaluate the patient’s condition and act as liaisons between the patient, the physician, and other health care professionals.

Medical Social Workers:

Our social workers serve as counselors to the patient and family. They assist the family with financial and legal matters and help them understand the challenges of illness and the dying process. They help the patient and family cope with grief, stress, and other end-of-life issues. The social worker helps promote family communication. They can arrange volunteer support and other services available in the community.

Therapy:

Physical, occupational, and speech therapists are available through hospice to help our patients maintain comfort and quality of life. These services are provided as needed to the individual patient.

Hospice Aides:

Our hospice aides are trained to assist with personal care for the patient. These areas include personal grooming and bathing, and other tasks as needs arise. The aides provide a much needed break for the caregiver and offer both physical and emotional support. These services are provided on an intermittent basis.

Spiritual Support Counselors:

Spiritual issues are a vital part of the care for hospice patients. Hospice spiritual support counselors assist with meeting end of life spiritual needs providing pastoral visits for the patient and family as requested. Assistance with memorial services and funerals is available at the family’s request.

Volunteers:

Hospice volunteers are often referred to as “The Heart of Hospice”. They are motivated by their dedication to the hospice mission and their compassion for patients, families, and the communities they serve. Our volunteers are key members of the Hospice Team that help individuals deal with illness, grief, and loss.  Volunteers provide companionship for the patient and relief for the caregiver. Upon completion of training, our volunteers perform many functions including sitting with patients, running errands for the patient and caregiver, providing emotional support, and relaying pertinent information to other members of the interdisciplinary team. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Willowbrook at: 615-791-8499. Please ask for our Volunteer Coordinator or Administrator.

Bereavement:

Trained staff and volunteers provide support for family and caregivers on issues of grief and loss for 13 months following the patient's death. Bereavement support consists of mailings and phone calls, memorial services, grief support groups, and limited individual counseling.