More than ever, the medical field needs committed people passionate about helping others. The passion for helping others regain their health and saving their lives makes it one of the most respected professions. The job of a healthcare professional requires them to have a strong sense of morality.

Indeed, the medical field offers a meaningful profession with many opportunities. But at the same time, it holds a strong appeal for those interested in helping others because only such people can understand the true meaning of their work.

So if you’re interested in pursuing a healthcare career, here’s what the medical field expects from you as a healthcare professional!

A Meaningful Profession

Behind every aspiring medical student, there’s a motivation that leads them to this path. A calling to help others, dedication and commitment to work hard, and the perseverance to help patients restore their health and vitality, often at personal cost, is what the medical field requires from you. No wonder why medics earned the title of “frontline warriors during the current pandemic.”

In some people, this passion for helping others and a strong feeling of empathy are innate, which is why they want to give back to society. While in others, this compassion may become their desire to enter the medical field.

The Feeling to Help Others Efficiently

The quality of life of people depends on their health. It dictates how we function in our everyday lives. What can be more rewarding than helping people restore their health? This is the sole objective of a healthcare professional. It is this objective that makes this profession so rewarding.

The medical field requires people with a passion for bringing relief to patients and are ready for an ongoing effort to treat illnesses successfully.

Taking Measures to Prevent Disease

Your work as a healthcare professional is not limited to treating the patients coming to your clinic but to take measures to eliminate illnesses and seek more improved treatment methods.

Research shows that healthcare professionals may not offer the quality care patients require if they’re not emotionally connected with them. Factors such as passion at work, engagement, and meaning of their profession prove to be protective factors in the medical profession, particularly in nursing, phlebotomy, etc.

Therefore, the medical field is in need of people who have a passion for being a part of the medical field to help society and provide them with better healthcare facilities.

Passionate to Improve the Quality of Life of Others

As an aspiring healthcare professional, you may have found your calling uniquely and want to contribute to society by providing innovative health practices and improved treatment methods. Other students may have different motivations than yours. Regardless of this motivation, medical institutes aim to facilitate medical aspirants to pursue their careers and practice their passion.

Whatever your professional sector of origin and your initial training, improving your skills to become a caregiver is always possible. Phlebotomy Career Training Institute is a leading medical health careers and certifications institute that helps facilitate the transition of individuals into the medical field, providing them with world-class training and stressing the importance of being compassionate and kind to others.

The Phlebotomy Career Training Institute of Healthcare offers passionate students a wide range of programs on medical health careers and world-class certifications, both online and in class, allowing them to rehearse their journey to becoming a healthcare professional in every possible way.

We focus on training students in small classrooms so they can have maximum interaction with their instructors. This ensures that each individual receives the required attention, can spend quality time with instructors and is fully prepared for a career in medicine.

Contact 888-410-6416 or visit the website to learn more about the courses we offer and to enroll in your desired field!

copyright 2023 PCT

When it comes to becoming a phlebotomy technician, one of the most common questions we get is if you need to be nationally certified. This article details the requirements of becoming a phlebotomy technician in New Jersey, how much you can expect to earn, and whether a national phlebotomy certification is important.

What Are the Phlebotomy Requirements For New Jersey?

You don’t need to be certified to work as a phlebotomy technician in NJ. However, there are numerous benefits of receiving a certificate. We will discuss this in a later section. In the meanwhile, let’s review some of the mandatory requirements you need to meet to work as a phlebotomist in the state:

• Age: You need to be at least 18 years old to qualify for a phlebotomy training course.
• Education: The state of New Jersey requires prospective phlebotomists to hold a high school diploma or a GED to qualify for a training course. If you are not 18 yet but have these qualifications, you can enroll in a course. However, you will have to wait until you meet the age requirements before you can start finding work in the field.
• Training: There are various phlebotomy schools that offer diplomas and degrees in this field. You can also avail of an externship in a clinic, research laboratory, or hospital to gain some hands-on experience. Most diploma programs last 4 to 6 weeks.

What Is the Pay rate for Phlebotomy technicians in NJ?

One estimate suggests that the average salary of a phlebotomy technician in New Jersey is approximately $37,000 a year. You can usually earn $17.38 per hour at this job. It’s important to note that your pay rate will also depend on your experience and your place of employment.

Why Is National Certification Important for Phlebotomists?

As mentioned at the onset, it is not necessary for a phlebotomist to obtain national certification in New Jersey. However, getting a phlebotomy certification online can do wonders for your career as a phlebotomy technician in NJ. It can enhance your employability and make it easier for you to get a job. This is because it demonstrates your dedication to your profession.

Moreover, a certified phlebotomy technician has a more enhanced skill set and can perform their duties and responsibilities in a better way. Your employer will have the confidence that you possess the qualifications and experience required to do your job effectively and responsibly. You can qualify for higher wages and improve your chances of working at a senior position.

Become Nationally Certified as a Phlebotomy Technician with NAPTP

The NAPTP is the longest-standing authority enabling phlebotomy technicians to become nationally certified in New Jersey and beyond. You can get your phlebotomy certification online and join our network of healthcare partners. What’s more, NAPTP also helps you carve out a lucrative career in phlebotomy and quickly move up the ladder to get higher-paying jobs to achieve professional growth. Our phlebotomists work in prestigious healthcare institutions all across the United States.  Our certification is recognized by ICE, NCCT, AMCA, and NHA, allowing you to work at some of the leading healthcare organizations in the United States.

Get in touch with NAPTP today and find out how you can learn phlebotomy and get certified as a phlebotomy technician in NJ.

28050 Ford Rd, Ste B

Dearborn, MI 48135

734-762-3220

Fax: 734-762-1718

Press Release:

Phlebotomy Career Training has announced on Wednesday that they have officially partnered with Castle Branch.  Mr. N’gganou head of marketing and development stated: “This is a giant step forward in helping our online and in person students secure their sensitive documents all in one place.”  Castle Branch is used by all major nursing schools and medical schools throughout the United States.

Benefits of Partnering with Castle Branch

The partnering of Phlebotomy Career Training and Castle Branch effectively puts the school on the map with other schools such as Michigan State University and Walden University to name a few.  Nancy Kimmel, Director of Admissions stated: “We require all of our students who are planning on doing their clinical externships through us to provide the school an exhaustive list of documents.  Some of these documents include their social security card, drivers’ licenses, health insurance cards and medical records such as drug screen results, TB skin tests and immunization titers.  No one feels comfortable sending these important and private documents through the United States mail.  We must also dedicate a special area for the students documents that is secure and locked, not to mention having one individual who must process them all.  With Castle Branch on board, students are now able to upload all their documents to a secure repository for a minimal fee.  The other great thing is that Castle Branch manages the students information and reaches out to them if they are missing any important documents.”

Accreditation

According to the Castle Branch website, the main purpose is to process background checks, drug screens and sensitive information which is required by colleges, universities, and nursing schools nationwide.  They are accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association which is considered the, “Gold Standard” for background screening.  Castle Branch is recognized as a consumer Reporting Agency.

Clinical Pipeline for Externships

According to Phlebotomy Career Training administrators, their affiliation with Castle Branch fills the gaps between clinical rotations and the instructors.  They stated that their overall purpose is to help gain visibility into their students attending clinical rotations and uncover those students who will make great employees.

From the information that has been gathered, Castle Branch will help with centralized reporting of student’s attendance at their clinical sites, enable instructors to track students progress and verify that students have submitted all their necessary documents to begin their clinical rotations.

Helping Students is the Key to their success

Nancy Kimmel states: “Castle Branch is our externship pipeline.  The task of managing students from across the United States is an almost impossible feat for the staff here at the school.  Most hospitals have stated that before they will accept on of our students, they must be first registered in the Castle Branch system.  This system allows students to also track their own progress.  Clinical staff can make notes in their progress which is then forwarded to our online instructors.  We want all of our students to know that clinicals is a necessary component of their studies and that they must take it very seriously.”

It appears that the partnership with Castle Branch is a step in the right direction for Phlebotomy Career Training.

Phlebotomy Career Training has been in operation since 2009 and serves both in persona and online students.  The programs that Phlebotomy Career Training offers include Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, Dialysis Technician, Electrocardiogram Technician and many more.  To find out more about the programs that they have to offer please visit: https://pctedu.fusedash.com/

Why PCT?
At phlebotomy career training, we understand that our students need to be up to date on cutting edge trends in the medical field, and with these uncertain times with COVID-19, we are pushing even further to educate our students on the proper protocols for dealing with infection control and donning and doffing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

As worldwide COVID-19 cases surge, and resurge, medical professionals are searching for ways to test, diagnose and refine the methods used to identify the COVID-19 Virus. Phlebotomists are at the forefront of this fight, as they are in close contact with infected patients, thus making the proper use of infection control procedures and PPE extra important during these trying times.

Infection Control and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Importance

As COVID-19 Infections continue to rise, and cases skyrocket globally, phlebotomists and other medical professionals are finding the need to “don and doff” medical protective wear properly of extreme importance. At Phlebotomy Career Training, our goal is to educate our students on not only the proper methods of infection control and donning and doffing PPE, but the concepts on why this process is necessary, and examples of what is correct and incorrect.

At , Our course is designed for teaching students and instructors about the proper methodology of infection control and donning and doffing PPE, as well as the etymology or “vital info” on the virus causing the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19, so our students are prepared to deal with the high volumes of cases. Due to the intensive nature of isolation rooms and the toll they take on hospitals, having staff that is well trained and efficient in these procedures is of the utmost importance to ensure the highest level of a patients and medical providers safety.

Hazardous Materials Handler Certification with a Specialization on COVID-19 and Infection Disease (CHMM)

The Hazardous Materials Handler Certification (CHMM Certified and Accredited) is now offered as part of the PCT Infection Control Course, with specialized information on the handling and disposal of hazardous materials and biological waste, with an emphasis on infectious diseases such as COVID-19. This course, now offered with all online classes, is designed to enhance our students knowledge and marketability when in the field or looking for employment opportunities in these uncertain times.

Contact us today for information on our online courses designed to meet students needs, no matter how busy or intense their personal life might be. At Phlebotomy Career Training, our programs are self-paced, self study with rapid completion options for students already in the medical field looking into cross training phlebotomy skills.

Visit us online at pctedu.fusedash.com/ to speak to an advisor and learn how phlebotomy career training can help you succeed with the best education by the highest quality instructors available!

Medical Assistants

Medical assistants, also known as a “clinical assistants” or healthcare assistants, are an allied health professionals who support the work of physicians, physician assistants and other health professionals, usually in a clinical setting.

What do Medical Assistants do?

Medical Assistants (MA) perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

Medical Assistants Basic Qualifications

As a medical assistant, you may perform primarily office tasks, mostly clinical tasks, or a mixture of both. Here are a few of the most common skills:

• Good communication skills
• Medical knowledge
• Knowledge of safety and sanitation
• Computer skills
• Customer service skills

Benefits of Medical Assistant’s Career Advancements

Gaining the Benefits of medical assistant’s career advancements take quite a bit of time, energy, and determination to become a medical assistant. The career path is fairly short however it involves a lot of studying and practical experience. The benefits of embarking on a medical assistant career are varied but can enrich one’s life significantly. Here are some of the most notable ones:

• Financial Benefits: Medical assistant career is a fast track start to a financially stable life. Medical assistants earn substantially more than their peers in the retail, manufacturing and other service industry professions. In addition, as you add to your educational credentials and your practical experience, you will be rewarded with more responsibility and a salary boost with your expertise.
• Personal Enrichment: Most people – no matter where they start in the medical field– enter it to help people to some degree. In fact, being a medical assistant can be as personally rewarding in this regard as it is for a heart surgeon. In many cases, it is even more so as a medical assistant has far more daily contact with patients than a surgeon does.
• Esteem of Your Co-workers: Being a medical assistant takes a special kind of person. There are all sorts of unpalatable tasks that must be undertaken and accomplished. Still the best medical assistants will garner the respect of not only their peers but also of the nurses and doctors that they serve with. The prestige that comes from being able to handle various patient populations can change an entry-level medical assistant into a must-hire advanced candidate.
• Better Job Security: Advancing past the entry-level stages of a medical assistant position is also extremely valuable as it increases your value to the healthcare organization. Lower-level positions are far more likely to be eliminated in a down market. Similarly, more knowledgeable employees will almost always be retained over less educated ones.

Medical Assistant’s Career Advancements Opportunities

Medical assistants may find career advancement opportunities in many areas:

• Clinical team leader
• Lead medical assistant
• Medical office manager
• Clinical office manager
• Medical assistant instructor
• Medical records manager
• Healthcare administration
• Executive medical office secretary

Different Career Specialties in Medical Assisting Advancements

Choosing a specialty can be a wise choice for future career advancement opportunities. Some medical specialties require more knowledge and skills than others and may offer opportunities for better pay and extended responsibilities. Here is a peek at a few specialties that medical assistants commonly work in:

• Clinical Specialties:
• Podiatry: Podiatry is a medical area that focuses on injuries and medical conditions of the foot.
• EKG/Cardiology Technician: EKG focuses on diseases and conditions of the heart and cardiovascular system.
• Ophthalmology: Ophthalmology medical assistants provide a wide range of duties in caring for the eyes.
• Administrative Specialties:
• Medical Billing and Coding: Medical billers and coders are responsible for handling charge sheets and submitting them to insurance companies for reimbursement.
• Medical Administrative Assistant: Medical administrative assistants work closely with the management team, or administrator of, a hospital or medical facility.

Many students have this question while they train at facilities to get their certifications. However, in order to answer it, we need to briefly introduce and highlight the importance of the MA certification. Moreover, we will define what ” Academic Credit Transfer” mean and then find out if the academic credit transfers or not while demonstrating the importance of the MA certificate.

    Firstly, Who Are Medical Assistants?

Medical Assistants are eligible to work in physicians’ offices, clinics, or other healthcare facilities. They are responsible for performing physician support services that help ensure medical facilities run smoothly. Certified Medical Assistants may work in a clerical, administrative or clinical capacity, and they may even be asked to perform more specialized tasks.

Secondly, What Is the Importance of the MA Certification?

    Although Medical Assistants can work without being certified, employers are usually looking for skilled and outstanding candidates. Getting certification through authenticated training centers proves to employers, coworkers and patients that this Medical Assistant has aced the field, and that ,now, they have the knowledge, techniques and skills necessary to assist a premium service.

How to Get MA Certificate?

In order to be eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant exam, the student must complete a formal medical assisting program from a school that has received accreditation from either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

    Thirdly,  What Is an Academic Credits Transfer?

    Credit Transfer is the recognition of academic credits gained through formal study at Registered Training Organizations, professional bodies or enterprises and universities. Credit Transfer is credit given based on documentary evidence of statement of attainment/qualifications.

There are two types of Credit Transfer:

1. External Credit: which applies if you completed eligible units of study at another tertiary institution or training organization.
   2. Internal Credit: which is available if you previously completed units of study at the same institution as part of a different course.

Finally, Does Academic Credits Transfer?

Applicants applying for an internal credit may be eligible for a reduction in the course fees based upon the regulations and the date of completing any previous courses; however, external credits do not transfer. The MA Certificate is considered as an external credit; therefore, its credit does not transfer.

Medical Assistant jobs have a great outlook in the coming years. In fact, it is one of the top 20 fastest-growing occupations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Obtaining a certificate increases the student chances of employment at large facilities, which means better environment, experience and benefits as well as a variety of patients and situations, too.

Becoming a certified Medical Assistant does not take long, and the job is rewarding in several ways. Students might be interested in a management job, a particular area of medicine or even teaching.

    What Benefits Do Students Get When They Roll in Medical Assisting Certificate Program?

1. Medical Assistants can Immediately start their career; they can notably finish their certificate program in a short period of time as some training centers offer a less than a year program.
2. It boosts confidence; as discussed before, Medical Assistants need to study for and pass the Certified Medical Assistant Exam. This license proves that the student is a professional in their field, and that builds confidence. MAs will also be working with other licensed professionals, so everyone around has the same knowledge base.
3. Medical Assisting is a highly demanded field; it is not always easy to get a job, but when it is for Medical Assistants, they are in demand. The profession is expected to grow 29% by 2026, much faster than average growth rates.
4. It pays great and it is stable; the pay scale for a Medical Assistant is currently $32,946 and ranges between $30,377 and $35,570. Also, The great demand for Medical Assistants means the turnover rate is low, and the industry is largely protected from layoffs even when the economy is bad.
5. It is fulfilling; many jobs do not provide an opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives, but Medical Assistants can go home at the end of the day knowing they did. It is a meaningful work!
6. Some people find lifelong careers as Medical Assistants, and others use the certification as a step in a longer career path. With exposure to several fields of healthcare, students might discover a related interest or an opportunity to pursue a different job. For example, careers in nursing, medical coding and allied health managementmay be of interest to Medical Assistants one day.
7. Certified Medical Assistants receive broader education; their responsibilities include clinical duties like drawing blood and performing basic lab tests as well as administrative duties such as updating patient records, billing and scheduling. Certified MAs are surely prepared to work in all of these evolving clinical and administrative areas.

As baby boomers get older, they need more preventive medical services. We are talking about 76.4 million people or almost one-third of the U.S. population. Almost all of them will be involved in the healthcare system in the upcoming years and especially this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical Assistants are always going to be an important part of the healthcare sector, and Certified MAs are highly needed to get the professional job done.

What is a PA?

PAs (Physician Assistants) are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality.

What do PAs do?

Physical assistants’ specific duties depend on the setting in which they work, their level of experience, their specialty, and state laws. They obtain patient histories, perform physical examinations, diagnose illness and develop treatment strategies, order and interpret lab tests, counsel patients on preventative health, perform various medical procedures, assist in surgical operations, and in most states can write prescriptions.

Degree Requirements for PA School

A bachelor’s degree from one of the accredited colleges and universities is the first requirement to join PA school. You can fulfill this requirement by completing a Physician Assistant program. You do not have to wait to finish your undergraduate study to apply to join PA school. However, because work experience gives you better odds, you need to a few years to volunteer, shadow a doctor or a PA, and maybe do research to increase your odds. Besides the bachelor’s degree, a PA assistant has to complete a master’s program accredited by ARC-PA, an independent body that licenses PA programs. The master’s program should involve classroom work and hands-on training. After this, you need to earn your PA certification by taking a PANCE test. You need to take the PANCE test within six years after completing your PA program. Within the six years, you are given six attempts – if you fail to get certified in all six attempts, you have to retake the ARC-PA accredited PA program. You can only start practicing after the certification.

Contact Hours for PA School

Like the GPA and GRE, there are no standard experience requirements for PA school. It is, therefore, challenging to know how much experience you need (in terms of hours) and in what areas. However, this is for sure, you will not get into any PA school without healthcare experience. There are different categories of healthcare experience, such as:

• Experience in Patient Care : This is the most recognized experience category when applying to join PA school. You need experience in developing patient treatment plans, performing procedures, and directing treatment for a patient. To earn the experience, you can work as a phlebotomist, C.N.A., paramedic, dental hygienist, or physical therapist among others. Accepted students earned an average of 3,020 hours in patient care experience in 2019, according to the PAEA report.

• Healthcare Experience : You only need to work in a healthcare setting for at least 1000 hours, either paid or unpaid. Here, you need experience in cleaning patients, delivering food, administering medication, or taking vitals. Patient’s care hours count when you work hands-on with patients.

• Shadowing: Here, you only need to observe a physician or physician assistant work. In 2019, accepted students shadowed PAs for an average of 143 hours.

• Volunteer Work: The volunteer work you undertake in a health facility does not count. You need to volunteer outside the healthcare system Here, you can tutor students in less privileged societies, fundraise money for charity, engage in city cleanups and so much more. You need at least 500 hours working as a volunteer.

• Non-healthcare employment experience: One of the ways on how to get into PA school is to show that you have experience in different fields. Therefore, you need at least 2000 hours in a field not related to healthcare.

What Can a Medication Aide Do?

Written by Haya Eshtayeh BA

A medical facility needs several employees in order to run. You find Receptionists, Technicians, Physiologists, Doctors, Therapists, Nurses and many more working there; some help with administration and others with taking care of patients. However, there is one particular job that deals daily with patients and is responsible for administering their medications: it is the Medication Aide Technicians. Therefore, what does a Medication Aide do? Where do they work? What is their pay scale? What are their responsibilities and duties? Moreover, what does it take to be a Medication Aide?

What Does a Medication Aide Do?

A Certified Medication Aide is a certified nursing assistant (CNA) responsible for administering daily medication to patients in a medical facility. Also referred to as Medical Aide Technicians, their duties include monitoring patients, reporting changes, and collecting samples.

Where Does a CMA Work?

Medication aides work in long-term care facilities, hospitals, medical centers, assisted living care centers and correctional facilities.

    What Is a CMA Pay Scale?

Medication Aides earn on average $28,203 a year, with entry-level employees earning $13,500 and those with more experience bringing home over $39,000 a year. Some aides will work a typical 9-to-5 work week, but most work evenings, overnight and weekends, as patients must take medication at all times of the day.

What Are CMA Responsibilities?

Many nursing homes and assisted living facilities employ certified medication aides to distribute medicines to patients and residents. Like other nursing disciplines, women make up the majority of medication aides, nearly 88 percent of all nursing aides, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Therefore, who works in this field needs to:

– Deliver routine daily medications, either prescription or non-prescription, to patients.

– Coordinate with different nurses to assist with patient care and medications.

– Follow written or verbal instructions on how to manage medications.

– Record medication dosages and times.

– Observe patients and document changes in their condition.

– Gather samples for analysis.

– Ensure equipment is routinely inspected and cleaned.

– Uphold all health and safety standards.

– Respond to patient emergency call signals, bells, or intercom systems to identify patient needs.

 What Are CMA Duties?

A CMA is a qualified and self-motivated and extremely detail-oriented person. The need to possess in-depth knowledge of patient care procedures. Providing excellent patient care is a vital part of this job, that is why excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required and being attentive to patients’ conditions is a must too.

What Does It Take to Be a Medication Aide?

Medication Aide education programs require only a few month’s commitment and take place at community colleges, tech schools and medical centers. Typically, a medication aide training program takes three to six months to complete and includes both classroom and hands-on training. Before starting a training program, most providers require students to have a high school diploma or GED and be currently certified nursing assistants or hold a nursing degree. Some programs also ask that students have some experience in a long-term care facility before taking the course. Training courses cover medication prep and how to deal with side effects and drug safety. In addition, a certification is essential for a Medication Aide; earning a license or permit generally requires filling out an application, meeting the education qualifications and paying an application fee. Candidates must also take and pass an exam.

As a result, a Certified Medication Aide Job requires:

– High school diploma or relevant qualification.

– Must be a certified medication aide.

– A previous experience as a medication aide (not a usual requirement).

– Able to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

– Good understanding of medical and .

While it may seem like a simple task, dispensing medication to patients requires special training. Even mild drugs like aspirin can have devastating effects when given to the wrong patients, which requires someone with the know-how to safely administer medication. A Medication Aide job is tough; however, whoever works in this field is notably a learned and bright person.

Hospice Care is defined as a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. In this article, however, we want to throw out sterile definitions and take a closer look at what it means to care for patients that are terminally ill, and the most important aspect of what a great caregiver should have: Compassion.

The Need for Hospice Care

Hospice care is focused attention on caring for the dying with serious illnesses. These are patients that doctors think have only a short time to live, often less than 6 months. Believing that this physical and spiritual treatment will make a huge difference in the patient’s life, physicians, nurses and family members often opt to make this process as comfortable as possible. Hospice involves caring for dying patients by helping them be as free from pain as possible, providing them with assistance to complete wills and other arrangements for their survivors, giving them social support through the psychological stages of loss, and helping family members cope with the dying process, grief, and bereavement. In addition, the process of hospice care will prioritize comfort, quality of life, and individual wishes freely; far away from any stress or restrictions.

National Hospice resource

Levels of Hospice Care

Patients differ in needs and required care according to their health case; as a result, there are four different stages/ levels of hospice care that meets each patient’s needs.

The four levels of hospice care are available for anyone who is eligible for Medicare:

• Routine Home Care

Routine home care is the basic level of hospice care provided in your home, assisted living, or nursing home. This level of care offers a team approach by hospice staff and your physician to provide comfort at the end of life.

• Continuous Home Care

This is when a nurse stays in your home for an extended period of time because the patient is experiencing a medical crisis or having a severe symptoms such as unrelieved pain.

• General Inpatient Care

Once the patients’ severe symptom requires an advanced level of hospice, they should be moved to specialized places called “General Inpatient Care”. The goal of inpatient hospice care is to control severe pain and symptoms, so the patient can receive the care that is consistent with their wishes.

• Respite Care

The respite level of hospice care is provided on an occasional basis and offers a planned, short-term break for caregivers who face the challenges of assisting patients with an advanced illness. The patient should receive a plan of care require 24-hour care.

Who are the caregivers? 

Caregivers are the people who have unique features that reflect compassion, love, mercy and hope to give the patient a secure and comfortable space to live. They can be a member of the patient’s family or loved ones; otherwise, it can be people that are specialized to provide such care for the sake of a happy and satisfied final moment/ ending.

Caregivers do not only provide a perfect sensible space, but they also provide help that makes the patient’s life easier when it comes to their daily routine. I would describe the caregivers as “adaptors”, according to the way they adopt their feelings, ideas, and time to fit their patients needs.

In most cases the disciplinary teams include: the nurse, nurses aide, medical assistant, homehealth aide, social worker and the physician.

Hospice Caregivers Challenges 

Caregivers are responsible for taking care of the basic needs of patients and giving hope to the patients for their remaining time. However, there are hidden challenges that caregivers face while performing hospice care. Some of those challenges will be outlined below.

According to caregivers’ continuous care routine, they may face many challenges that affect their daily lives, such as being exhausted exhausted from long hours of work. In addition, caregivers may also have fears about losing their loved one/ patient at any time or making a mistake that could compromise their quality of life. Caregivers may also have a difficult time when it comes to making decisions that may jeopardize the patients comfort level, such as removing a favorite pillow for a new one, or a favorite chair for a newer model, as some patients can become very emotionally attached to these things. High levels of caregiver stress may drive those working in hospice care to feel angry with themselves and/or guilty about decisions they have had to make, often taking that stress home with them.

A Reason to care

Individuals taking care of patients in hospice settings aim to help patients feel mercy, compassion and love, with the goal of providing a peaceful and relaxing end. Often, the greatest challenge is helping the patient feel the will to continue on, as the will to live can often help patients in hospice care hold on for a few more precious moments with family and or loved ones. Giving compassionate care should always be emphasized in any health care setting, especially when caring for those in their final stages of life. This is where the field of medicine truly becomes a calling, not a job description.