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The Monroe County Hospice House is open and accepting patients who need intensive care at the end of life. The house also supports families who need brief respite care.
“Although most patients choose to remain in their homes when receiving hospice services, there are times when the disease progression makes it no longer feasible for care to be provided in any other setting than an inpatient facility,” said Elizabeth Wise, President of Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono. “If that need arises, our dedicated Hospice House will ensure that we can continue providing physical, social, spiritual and emotional care for patients and their families during the last stages of life.”
The service returned to the facility at 412 E. Brown St. in East Stroudsburg after passing regulatory approvals from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and support from an Advisory Committee of community members, chaired by Mark Primrose, Esquire.
The group formed to assess to the future of the Hospice House and hospice services in Monroe County and recommended re-opening with a three-year commitment of support and financial growth from additional community members using the service. The team, in cooperation with the LVHN-Pocono Foundation, has raised more than $220,000 to support the house.
Following the Committee’s recommendations, LVH-Pocono leaders reviewed the suggestions and worked diligently with Committee members to determine clear steps that would make operation of the house viable both now and in the future.
“The attention around hospice care increased awareness and communication among in-hospital providers and gives us an opportunity to continue to grow the program for those who need it going forward,” Wise said. “We remain committed to end-of-life care as we balance and reconcile the desires of the community with our organizational resources and the needs of all our patients. We thank our Community Advisory Committee for their unwavering support of the Monroe County Hospice House.”
The LVHN-Pocono Foundation and Community Advisory Committee continue to seek philanthropic support from our community through a fund for donations called “Hospice House–Today, Tomorrow & Always.” Online donations can be made by visiting give.lvhn.org/pocono, or you can mail a check, payable to LVHN–Pocono Foundation, 206 E. Brown St. East Stroudsburg, Pa. Please indicate “Hospice House” on the memo line. For more information about how you can help with fundraising, call 570-476-3530.