April 2, 2002
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute acquires hospice to enhance continuum of care
Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announced today that it has acquired HealthCare Dimensions Hospice from Deaconess-Waltham Hospital. An adult and pediatric hospice program, HealthCare Dimensions provides comprehensive end-of-life services to patients with advanced terminal illnesses.
"Expanding access to high-quality end-of-life care has been a high priority for Dana-Farber's caregivers and patients," says Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD, president of Dana-Farber. "HealthCare Dimensions is a highly respected provider of hospice care, and with them we hope to further enhance the full continuum of care we are able to provide to our patients and their families."
"We are delighted to be joining the Dana-Farber family, and are very much looking forward to contributing to a comprehensive program of end-of-life care that will serve as a model for others," says Nancy Euchner, chairman of the board of HealthCare Dimensions. "This relationship will enhance our ability to carry out our mission of providing excellent clinical care and support to those facing terminal illness in the greater Boston area, and to more fully develop specialized services, such as pediatric care." The hospice will continue to provide care for adult and pediatric patients, and its services will be available to patients from other care facilities.
Hospice care addresses the physical, social and spiritual needs of patients with end-stage disease, offering palliative, or comfort-oriented, care for symptom management and control of pain, while neither hastening nor postponing death. The hospice care model utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach to caring for patients, with the care typically provided at the patients' home. Members of the care team include the patient's primary care physician, registered nurses, medical social workers, home health aides, pastoral counselors, bereavement counselors, and volunteers.
Originally named Hospice of Watertown, Waltham and Belmont, the hospice was founded in 1980 to provide end-of-life care in Boston's western suburbs. The hospice formed an affiliation with Waltham Weston Hospital and Medical Center (now Deaconess-Waltham Hospital) in 1984, and two years later the hospice changed its name to Hospice West, Inc. In 1995, the hospice became known as HealthCare Dimensions Hospice. The hospice merged in 1996 with Trinity Hospice of Greater Boston, Inc.
Founded in 1989, Trinity Hospice was the first hospice to serve the city of Boston, and was known for its innovative programs, including community outreach, service to poor families with complex care needs, and people with AIDS. HealthCare Dimensions started Hospice for Kids in 2000 to serve terminally ill children and adolescents and their families. Through these changes during the past 22 years HealthCare Dimensions has grown to serve residents of Boston and 36 surrounding communities.
HealthCare Dimensions (www.hcdhospice.org) is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is a licensed Medicare and Medicaid provider. The hospice is a member of the Council of Hospice Professionals, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and the Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
