Comfort Care Philosophy

Vision
We here at Bridgton Hospital envision Comfort Care as a process which affirms life and regards dying as a natural process. We recognize end of life as a profoundly personal experience for the patient and family.

Mission
To provide an alternative to patients and families as they make the transition through the changing aspects of care from cure to comfort and to help the dying patient who wishes to address issues of life completion and life closure.

Goals

• To provide ongoing pain management and symptom control realizing that patient's conditions and needs may change.
• Maintenance of patient's optimal physical, psychological and spiritual status.
• Respect for patient/family goals, preferences and choices.
• Provide an environment for privacy and personal dignity conducive to patient/family wishes.
• Remain sensitive and supportive to the personal, cultural and religious values, beliefs and practices of the patient/family.
• A multidisciplinary team approach to include but not limited to: physicians, nurses, pharmacists, pastoral care, social workers, dietary and volunteers.
• Supportive services to care givers.
• Educate and empower patients/families to take an active role in their end of life care and decisions including appropriate advance planning measures.
• Ongoing communication, continuity and coordination of care to assure that changing needs/goals are identified and addressed.
• Provide a consistent environment during the last week of life.