The VA Hospice Care Center

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The VA Hospice Care Center
VA Palo Alto HCS
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History

• Founded 1979 in Menlo Park
• Opened to non-Veterans 1999
• Physician Fellowship, Consult Service 2000
• Circle of Life Citation of Honor Winner 2001

Founder, Vicki Ellis
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Serving Veterans and the Community

• 25 inpatient beds
• 400 patients per year
• Contracts with 5 home hospices
• 30 non-veterans admissions

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Special Services

• Full-time Psychologist
• 0.5 FTE Occupational Therapist
• 0.5 FTE Massage Therapist

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Current trainees

• Physician fellows
• Palliative Care
• Geriatrics
• Psychology Interns
• Medical Residents
• Medical Students

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Fellowships to be offered

• Physicians
• Advance Practice Nurses (4 month
  mini-fellowships)
• Psychology Post-docs

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Education Dissemination Plan

• Coordinate Dissemination of Curricula, Forms,
  Policies throughout VA and beyond
• Via EPERC
• Growth House

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Research Interests

• Psychological Issues
• Depression, Grief
• Culture, Communication
• Economics of end-of-life care