Hospice of Chattanooga announces ‘Heart Touch Journey Program’
Alleo Health System, Hospice of Chattanooga’s parent company, announces the launch of its new Heart Touch Journey Program for palliative care patients, designed to maximize the quality of life for cardiac disease patients who need assistance with pain and symptom management.
“The Heart Touch Journey Program significantly enhances Hospice of Chattanooga and Alleo Health System’s capacity for providing the same quality-oflife care to hospice and now palliative care patients for which we are known across 22 counties in southeast Tennessee, northwest Georgia and North Carolina,” said Tracy Wood, chief executive officer of Hospice of Chattanooga. “Heart Touch Journey provides a full range of medical, psychosocial and spiritual support to patients and their families so that they are not facing their challenging journey alone.”
Each participant in the Heart Touch Journey Program receives a daily assessment by visit or phone and 24-hour access to a program nurse practitioner seven days a week from their own home. Patients will have all necessary cardiac medications in a comfort kit to help them manage pain, anxiety and swelling.
Program eligibility includes patients showing a number of critical conditions that could be managed at home with the oversight of our palliative care team in conjunction with their physicians. A patient experiencing a cycle of increasing symptoms such as weight gain or loss, anxiety, swelling of abdomen and limbs, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, congestion and sleeping during the day may also be eligible for this new cardiac program.
“Many of our Palliative Care Services patients suffer from congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease,” said Dr. Greg Phelps, chief medical officer at Hospice of Chattanooga. “Our goal is to manage their symptoms and pain to increase their quality of life — not only for the patients themselves but also their families.
“Heart Touch Journey will result in fewer readmissions to the hospital, more time spent at home, and more control and extra support for patients and families,” Phelps said. “Our goal is to manage their symptoms and pain to increase their quality of life — not only for the patients themselves but also their families. Heart Touch Journey will result in fewer readmissions to the hospital, more time spent at home, and more control and extra support for patients and families.”
Their physician remains in control with an
“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen ... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.”
— Bradley Whitford
Everett “Neil” Bomar, 67, of Ringgold, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, February 26, 2020. He was a lifelong resident of Catoosa County, and retired from Averitt Express after 36 years with the Safe Driving Award. Neil loved gardening and spending time with his 12 grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Carla Benton Bomar, son Jason Neil (Andrea) Bomar of Trenton, daughters Jaime (Craig) Overturf of Ringgold, Sandi (David) Everett of Ringgold, and Krissi (Andrew) Rector of Chattanooga, sisters Ester (Gary) Jones of Lafayette and Vivian (Jeff) Marks of Lafayette, and grandchildren Johnathan Bomar, Ryan Bomar, Joshua Bomar, Josiah Bomar, Elizabeth Bomar, Sarah Bomar, Haley Wyer, Jordan Everett, Alissa Everett, Charlie Overturf, Kaleigh Rector, and Elijah Rector.
Private funeral services will be held at a later date.
Visit www.heritagebattle - rial tribute and share words of comfort with the family.
There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory,
Words, however kind, can’t mend your heartache, but those who care and share your loss wish you comfort and peace of mind. May you find strength in the love of family and in the warm embrace of friends.
— Author Unknown
Ralph Edward Herman age 62, born in Chattanooga, died suddenly Monday, February 24th, 2020. Son of the late Paul and Mary Ruth Herman. As a follower of Christ, he was a Musician, Aviator and a Master Barber at CrossRoads Barber Shop, in Chickamauga GA, where he served the community for over 20 years.
Ralph is survived by his brother: Joe (Judy) Herman.
Arrangements by www. wilsonfuneralhome. com with an online guest book.
Gravesite service Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 3:00PM at Chickamauga Cemetery. Forecast: Sunny Hi 60°. It was a perfect day for him to
SMILE BECAUSE HE LIVED
You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him, or you can be full of the love that you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn back, or you can do what he would want: Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
— Author Unknown
added layer of communication and support from our clinicians in the home. Additionally, the palliative
care can also help the patient sort through information regarding goals of care and patient care priorities, Phelps noted.
Heart Touch Journey offers education, support and treatment through a team approach to addressing a cardiac patient’s medical, psychosocial
and spiritual needs, including those experienced by their families and loved ones, Phelps added. End-stage heart disease, diabetes, hypertension or renal disease, or if they have a history of cardiac arrest or unexplained losses of consciousness due to a drop in blood pressure.
“The Heart Touch Journey program for hospice patients has been very successful with an extremely low hospital readmission rate,” Phelps also pointed out. “We are excited about tailoring this program to those patients who are receiving palliative care.”
It is also important to consider palliative care if the family is overwhelmed by the patient’s care regimen at home or if the patient has multiple office and emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
For any questions, call Palliative Care Services at 423-553-1823.