H E A LT H C A R E
SUNCOAST HOSPICE
EMPATH HEALTH
Compassionate Care for Diverse Communities
HOSPICE CARE CAN BE A
monumental support to patients
and families; yet, sadly, many
Americans continue to access it only in
their final few days of life. With merely a
few days, patients and families cannot
fully benefit from the quality care of
community hospice providers, such as
our Empath Health member Suncoast
Hospice.
Although hospice care has always been
for everyone, minority communities across
America are shown to use hospice services
in lower numbers. “Patients of minority
(non-Caucasian) race accounted for less
than one-fifth of hospice patients in 2013,”
according to the 2014 NHPCO Facts and
Figures: Hospice Care in America report.
However, the U.S. Census Bureau counted
minorities as approximately 37% of the
U.S. population in 2013. The NHPCO
report also showed that from 2012 to 2013,
the percentage of hospice patients dropped
among Blacks/African Americans (8.6% to
8.4%) and Hispanics/Latinos (6.9% to 6.8%)
nationally.
I believe, to some extent, we all fear
confronting our mortality. Too many of us
neglect discussing our end-of-life care
wishes, including the option of hospice
care for pain and symptom management
and emotional, spiritual and caregiver
support when a cure is not possible. Still,
minorities may be avoiding hospice for
different reasons. The word hospice, spiritual
beliefs and hospice misinformation became
barriers for some African Americans I
previously have heard from. They voiced,
“We don’t want to hear the word hospice;”
We think of the life and death experience as a
transition, not an end;” and “We didn’t know
hospice was for us.”
Suncoast Hospice is one of the largest,
often times are stricken with stress
and emotion.
“I’ve seen some of our African American
families have a strong sense of not
wanting to give up – feeling they’ve not
done everything they can possibly do for
their loved ones. With some of our Latino
families, the biggest issue is the satellite
family members coming in with guilt
and unresolved issues. I feel I can help
open the avenue to communication,” he
shared.
When caring for patients and families
of any cultures, Dr. Escobales believes it
is crucial to speak in common and simple
language and not specifically about
death. He also strives to bring everyone
in the family to the table when talking
about the needs and goals of care. “I try to
get down to Earth. I’ll talk to the spouse
or other family members and ask them to
tell me what they’re thinking; and most
of the time, they’ll tell me what’s on their
minds, or what their fears are. In the end,
they’ve talked about it and they feel so
relieved.”
We are here to help everyone in our
community live more through the compassionate
care of Suncoast Hospice/
Empath Health.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is president
and CEO of Empath Health, an integrated
network of care. For more information
about Empath Home Health eligibility or to
make a referral, call 727-523-2360 or visit
empathhealth.org.
By Rafael J. Sciullo
Rafael J. Sciullo
leading and accredited hospices in the
nation, serving Pinellas County since
1977. We are committed to connecting our
hospice and other Empath Health services
with diverse communities and meeting
their unique needs. They are not giving
up control, hope or faith by seeking hospice
care. They are getting help to live more
comfortably and meaningfully.
Our extraordinary care teams provide
respect, understanding and compassion
to every patient and family, as they deal
with the challenges of illness. One of our
expert physicians working at our Suncoast
Hospice Care Center North Pinellas is
Juan Escobales, MD. Dr. Escobales, a
bilingual Puerto Rico native, is board
certified in family medicine and has
practiced medicine in Pinellas since 1976.
He concentrates on listening to and
supporting patients and families, who
MARCH/APRIL 2015 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 121