Monica Blaske This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. St. Michael's - Links

   www.stmichaelshospital.org/Con - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/3/2008   Last Visited: 1/3/2008

   Hospital Director of Nursing - Monica Blaske mblaske@stmichaelshospital.org

2. 2. Melrose Beacon Sept. Oct. 2001

   www.melrosebeacon.com/backissu - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/25/2002   Last Visited: 8/25/2002

   It's National Hospice Month and Monica Blaske, director of St. Michael's hospice program in Sauk Centre, wants the public to know that there is information about hospice care available.
   
   Anyone from families who want hospice care for their loved one to people who want a rewarding volunteer experience should seek information.
   
   HOSPICE SERVICES
   
   Hospice is a program that offers in-home services to terminally ill. A client may receive hospice care for as long as necessary when a physician certifies that hospice care is appropriate.
   ...
   "If people wish to die at home, it's never too late to ask about hospice," Blaske said.
   
   According to the National Hospice Foundation, 80% of Americans wish to die at home and only 25% do while 75% of those who get into a hospice program have that opportunity. "In death, the person dying should control what's going on and hospice gives them the opportunity to do that," Blaske said. In hospice care, the patient's wishes are enforced. Not only is hospice there for the patient, they are also there for the families.
   
   "Families do quite well when their loved one dies because the whole process that we go through gets them prepared," Blaske said.
   
   One of the other services of hospice, respite care, also provides relief to family members. "Patients are brought into a facility for up to five days to give the primary caregiver, a break," Blaske said. "We also have the option to use the in-patient benefit. In this case the client is brought into the hospital setting. Situations that require this would be symptoms that need to be reassessed for better management or it maybe that the client is at the end of their life and requires more assistance than can be provided in the home setting."
   
   Other out of home hospice services include hospital settings.
   
   ...
   "We typically do this for symptom control," Blaske explained. "We'll bring a patient in for a short period of time to bring their symptoms under control. At other times a patient may feel uncomfortable being at home or their illness requires them to be in the hospital."
   
   St. Michael's program also offers hospice in nursing homes including St. Michael's Nursing Home, Sauk Centre; Osakis Community Nursing Home, Osakis; and Pine Villa in Melrose. The program is also available at Das Goldene Wohnheim in New Munich and Kollen Homes, Sauk Centre.
   
   ...
   said Blaske
   
   In 1991, the program at St. Michael's had 38 patients. This year there were 51. Statistics from the National Hospice Foundation show that hospice care rose from 540,000 patients in 1998 to 700,000 in 1999. More and more people realize that hospice care improves the quality of end-of-life. This maybe because the focus is on caring, not curing.
   
   ...
   "I have three RNs, two of which are certified in Hospice and Palliative Nursing," Blaske stated, "seven home health aids and 22 volunteers including a volunteer coordinator."
   
   Other professionals on the hospice team include a social worker, spiritual director, medical director--a doctor who oversees all the patients and recommends avenues of treatment, bereavement coordinator who assures the follow-up with a grieving families for 13 months after the death of a patient, and consultants such as counselors and occupational, physical and speech therapists.
   
   According to Blaske, volunteers choose to become involved in helping a family and their loved one.
   
   "Volunteers provide relief of the caregiver such as when they want to go shopping," Blaske said. "Sometimes they just visit or read to the patient. Volunteers are a very important part of what we do."
   
   Blaske, who has been director of St. Michael's program for three years, said this is the most rewarding nursing experience she's ever had.
   
   "I was an acute care nurse before, but this is a completely different experience," she said. "The most rewarding aspect is to be included with the family. Death, like birth is an event in a family. To be invited to be involved in this intimate experience is an honor."
   
   The experience can also be emotionally draining. "A lot of people who would volunteer are scared by this," Blaske said, "but there is a training program and on going support of the whole Hospice team." The hospice program also offers some out-of-home opportunities to volunteers, including fundraising and office work. And Blaske says that people can pick up information, even though they may choose to not volunteer.
   
   Those who would like information about volunteering with St. Michael's hospice program should call (320) 352-2221 Ext. 237.
   
   Return to this week's headlines
   
   Melrose Police Chief submits October report

3. 3. St. Michael's - Links

   www.stmichaelshospital.org/Con - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/6/2006   Last Visited: 2/6/2006

   Hospital Director of Nursing - Monica Blaski mblaske@stmichaelshospital.org