St. Thomas Hospice Review

While my mom was in Hinsdale Hospital we were introduced to the rep from St. Thomas Hospice. We were not told that we could work with any other hospice so began working with St. Thomas. We wanted my mom to be moved out of the hospital and to her assisted living facility to be hospiced.
We met with the rep just about every day. Each time she would provide information to my sisters and I and by the next day that information had changed. She was also abrupt and at times rude. My sisters and I wanted my mom to be sent home with IV fluids (the doctors were on board with this decision). She agreed but by the next day said if that is your choice you cannot have ANY hospice services and you will need to work with your primary care doctor to order any comfort meds, equipment, etc. At that point we spoke with the Hinsdale Hospital social worker who told us that we could use another hospice group (first time we had heard that information as St. Thomas was the only hospice offered when we knew we needed to get mom into hospice) so we hired Seasons and moved forward with them. They were wonderful and were fine with allowing my mom to have fluids by IV at home. It was a horrible situation to have to endure while processing the fact that my mom was dying. I am also very angry that Hinsdale Hospital only presented St. Thomas (they own St. Thomas) and did not offer us any other option until we asked. The entire ordeal was unacceptable in every way and absolutely cruel to inflict on a family processing the impending death of a loved one.

It was a true disappointment. Not even clear what they did to differentiate themselves from being an inpatient at the hospital. No dedicated hospice care or nurses. No "no one dies alone" program that they sold us on. They moved us to a bigger room and put my mother on a morphine drip. There was no representative from hospice after my mom died. The hospitalist didn't even know who Ron, the hospice care coordinator, was. Nice communication. Luckily only had to deal with them for 2 days. Id try and find a different route and not even bother dealing with them.

When my father died he was in inpatient hospice at Hinsdale Hospital. Before signing with hospice we were led to believe that he and we had absolute control about the process. After signing, all those promises went out the window. Ours and our father's wishes were overruled or ignored. If we protested, we were threatened with removal. I absolutely believe they hastened my father's death. The one thing that I take away from my experience is that I will never consider hospice as an option for myself. Maybe there are good hospice experiences out there but St. Thomas Hospice isn't one of them. I will never forgive them.

My friend Gerald asked me to share his experience with St. Thomas Hospice regarding the care his wife received. "They were all so compassionate and caring that from the minute my wife signed up with hospice I was at peace. She was always clean and neat and very comfortable. I miss my wife but I do not morn my wife I did right by her." GJG.

The people at St. Thomas are wonderful and caring people. They guided us through a very difficult time in our lives. They helped us understand what our loved one was going through and what we could do to make him more comfortable. They were available 24/7 to answer questions big and small. I would recommend this group to all my friends if they ever find them self in this situation .

St. Thomas Hospice nurses are the finest caretakers my family has ever met. They took wonderful care of our Mother as her health diminished. They took the time to answer our questions, update us often, keep our Mom very comfortable and clean. They were free with hugs for us as well. Thank God for these angels of Mercy. Thank you from our entire family!