Services
Muse Norris Hospice In-Patient Unit
The Inpatient Unit is used for patients needing acute care, respite care or final care. Our goal is to take the best care of the patient while in the unit, as well as offering support to make family members feel welcome while visiting. We encourage communication of any concerns or needs that you may have during the Unit stay.
The Inpatient Unit is meant to be an option of short-term needs, therefore, the plan is to return the patient to the home care setting if feasible. The standard policy is to discuss outcome planning with you shortly after admission to the Unit.
Examples of the levels of care are as follows:
- Acute Care - Sudden change in patient requiring
ongoing physician visits, continuous RN assessment and frequent adjustments
in plan of care of symptoms not responding to interventions attempted
in the home care setting.
- Respite Care - The purpose of respite care is
to provide rest or relief for the caregiver by providing care for
the patient on an inpatient basis. The length of stay allowed by
Medicare for each admission for respite care is five days.
- Final Care - For patients who are unable to remain at home during the last days of life.
Inpatient Unit Policies
- Visiting - Visitors are expected and welcome
at the Hospice Center. There are no restrictions on numbers of visitors,
ages or times of visiting. We only ask that you be aware of the needs
of others by controlling noise levels and helping to protect the
furnishings and grounds.
- Although we encourage family members to go home to rest, a family
member may stay overnight. We have chair beds and recliners that
may be used in the patient's room and a sofa sleeper in one of the
lounge areas.
- Medications Brought From Home - Bring medications
in their original containers. Please give them to the RN on duty.
- Food Service - Meals served to each patient will
be planned to accommodate individual preferences, to the extent practical.
- Snacks, will be available to patients. Since meals/snacks
are not available to families, there is a small pantry area for your
use. There is a microwave, a small refrigerator for items you may
wish to bring from home. Coffee is available. A pop machine and snack
machine are also available.
- Security - The front door is locked during the
evening and night time hours. Push the intercom button for admittance.
- Personal Property - Hospice of North Iowa cannot
be responsible for valuable items such as money, charge cards, jewelry,
etc. We encourage patients to send these items home with their families.
Please do not leave your belongings in common areas.
- Pets - Visits from a patient's pet are welcomed,
but must be planned before the pet is brought to the Inpatient Unit.
Pets brought should be kept on a leash and/or under control. Accidents
must be cleaned up immediately.
- Visitor's Restrooms - A handicapped accessible,
unisex bathroom is located in the main hallway that leads to the
Carriage House.
- Telephone Calls - Each patient room is equipped
with a phone. Incoming calls will be routed through the nurse's desk
to the patient's room.
Long distance calls may be placed with operator assistance or credit cards for billing purposes. Long distance calls cannot be made from patient rooms.
For more privacy, there is also a phone in the sun room.
- Smoking - The Hospice Center is a smoke-free environment. The deck or front porch may be used for smoking purposes.
- Television - Each patient room is equipped with
a TV and VCR. There is also a TV-VCR in the family area with movies
available. Please keep the sound low to avoid disturbing others.
- Housekeeping Services - Please report to the
nurse if you have any concerns or questions about housekeeping services.
- Problems and Complaints - We want you and your
family to be satisfied with the care provided. Please report any
dissatisfaction with the care or any injury, accident or damage to
you or your property, to the RN on duty immediately. If the problem
is not handled to your satisfaction, please take your concern to:
- The Coordinator of the Inpatient Unit
- The Manager of Nursing
- The Executive Director, and then
- The State of Iowa Hotline: 1.800.383.4920
- Staff - The Medical Director is responsible for ensuring that appropriate medical care is provided in the Hospice Inpatient Unit. Nursing staff are on duty at all times to plan and provide for care. Other team members stay involved with the patient and family. Your personal clergy is always welcome and a Hospice Chaplain is also available.
