HEALTH & WELLNESS
SUNCOAST HOSPICE
BRINGS CARE, COMFORT TO
HILLSBOROUGH
Rafael J. Sciullo, CEO, Empath Health
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 117
Since 1977, Suncoast Hospice has
provided expert, compassionate
end-of-life care for the residents
of Pinellas County. Now we are
honored to share that same service
excellence with those living across the
bay in Hillsborough County.
Earlier this year the Florida Agency on
Health Care Administration confirmed
Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough,
a member of Empath Health, as that
county’s newest hospice provider.
Hillsborough County is a broad and varied
community, and we have many exciting
plans to improve end-of-life care and grief
services for families and loved ones in
that community.
The services of Suncoast Hospice of
Hillsborough are rooted in the care we
have pioneered for the past 44 years.
We were founded by volunteers who
saw the need for quality end-of-life care
– their services and support continue at
our core today. As we grew, we created
the first pediatric hospice program of its
kind in the country, started the first teen
volunteer program, established internal
pharmacy and durable medical equipment
programs, and opened the first-of-its-kind
integrative medicine clinic. All along, we
listened to the needs of our community
and expanded our services to include
all-inclusive elder care, home healthcare,
palliative care, HIV/STI prevention and
support programs and more.
Our plans in Hillsborough include help
with disease-specific issues, specialized
outreach and support for non-English
speakers and low-income residents, the
deployment our Empath Honors program
for veteran care and support, and care
and support for Jewish and LGBTQ+
community members.
Disease-specific care will include help for
those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease,
end-stage heart failure and pulmonary
disease that offer many challenges to
patients and families at end of life. Our
varied CareConnections programs bring
together clinical expertise, specialized
therapies and comfort measures that will
ease confusion and discomfort.
Reaching underserved populations will
be an important part of our services in
Hillsborough. A mobile outreach unit will
bring care to those who need it. Along with
medical care, the unit will offer educational
seminars and materials, and bereavement
services in English and Spanish.
Homeless residents will also be helped
as our clinicians work with Metropolitan
Ministries and other like groups to provide
hospice services to these patients wherever
they call home – emergency shelters, safe
havens, transitional housing or even on
the streets. In addition, we will work with
the county and state health departments
so their patients can better navigate care
choices, allowing access to end-of-life care
earlier in their disease process.
Veterans may have very different needs
at the end of their lives. Our Empath
Honors program addresses physical and
mental stressors. We offer a Veterans
Serving Veterans volunteer program
pairing fellow veterans for specialized
support, pinning ceremonies, counseling,
the opportunity to tell their military stories
through the Veteran’s History Project and
access to one of the few hospice programs
in the country to offer Legacy Corps.
Legacy Corps provides caregiver support
services by highly trained volunteers for
veterans and their caregivers for needed
respite services in order to keep veterans
in their homes.
We will ensure our diverse communities
receive end-of-life care in ways that meet
their individual needs and includes
working toward our Jewish Hospice
Certification for Hillsborough and training
all staff under our SAGECare certification
for better care and understanding of our
LGBTQ+ community.
And finally, as with our sister hospice,
Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough has
the benefit of being a member of Empath
Health. With our full life care spectrum
of programs and services, we will offer
the residents of Hillsborough access to
services that support them throughout their
journeys. We are honored to bring our care
across the bay and look forward to serving
families when they need us the most. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is
the CEO of Empath Health, a nonprofit
integrated network of care for those affected
by chronic or advanced illness in west and
southwestern Florida. For more information
about services, call (727) 467-7423 or visit
EmpathHealth.org.
By Rafael J. Sciullo