Taking Comfort at Hospital

Room Set Up To Help Terminally Ill Patients and Families

When St. Vincent Hospital patient Andrew Duran made the decision to decline life-prolonging medical treatment, he chose to end his life on his terms.

Duran’s death — from complications of sepsis, an infection — and the gathering of his extended family in his last 48 hours was influential in the establishment of a care and comfort room for dying and terminally ill patients at the hospital, said Cathy Alvarado, a registered nurse in the hospital’s progressive care unit.

The care and comfort room was dedicated Monday with blessings by spiritual leaders in the community.

Duran’s mother, sister, brother, brother-in-law and niece were on hand for the dedication.

“It took the fear away so we could concentrate on finding the courage to let him go,” said Carmella Romero, Duran’s sister, at the dedication.

Establishing a place where patients can die in peace and where families can gather to say goodbye has long been a need at the hospital, said Mary Blissett, a registered nurse and case worker.

Blissett is part of a hospital committee addressing the spiritual needs of patients.

After Duran’s death, the committee recommended that the room be designated as a permanent room dedicated to providing a comforting place for the dying.

Nurses will care for the patient and give emotional and spiritual support to the families, something “nurses are experts in addressing,” Blissett said.

An additional new “family room” located across the hall gives extended families a place to gather and begin the emotional process of letting go of a loved one.

Volunteers will “care for the family members also, freeing up nurses who have other patients,” Blissett said.

When Duran made his decision to decline further treatment after two months at St. Vincent, the floor nurses swung into action, transforming an empty room into a hospice-like room.

A former caregiver, Duran had befriended nurses on every floor of the hospital during his stay, Romero said.

Lounge chairs and blankets were brought in so his mother and siblings could spend the night with him.

The experience made letting go a bit easier, Romero said.

“He knew we were there with him, and that was the most important part of that room — we were able to give him our love without having to worry about the medical part of it,” she said. “We knew the nurses were right outside the door. They made it like a little home for us.”

Members of the committee recognized that the Duran family provided an example of how the hospital could address the spiritual needs of its patients, said Alvarado, a committee member.

“His family was able to circle around him and pray,” she said.

The committee asked that the room be designated full time as a care and comfort room. Once the administration agreed, the committee worked to make the room as homey as possible.

The double room features two comfortable stuffed-leather chairs, flowers, artwork, a single bed with a soft comforter and sage- colored walls. Tile, featuring blue sky with clouds, was installed above the bed. The room features little medical equipment.

This is the first such room at St. Vincent, although many hospitals across the nation have hospice units or wings. Other hospitals often refer patients to hospice providers in the community, said Erika Campos, director of communication at St. Vincent.

St. Vincent CEO Alex Valdez said he is happy to finally have such a room at the hospital.

“I’m glad we’ve been able to move down this road,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”