The hospice team consists of both professionals and volunteers who make a coordinated effort to ensure that the hospice philosophy is maintained to the highest degree possible.

Medical Director – Assumes overall responsibility for the medical component of the hospice's patient care program. The Medical Director is a patient advocate and can intervene on the patient's behalf for pain and comfort measures.

Attending Physician – Works with RN and other hospice professionals to manage the symptoms of the terminally ill in hospice care. Any procedures, medications or other treatments must be approved by the attending physician.

Hospice Nurse – The hospice nurse develops and implements the hospice care plan and assesses the nursing needs of the hospice patient regularly to ensure that nursing needs of each patient are met. The hospice nurse works with the attending physician to ensure that the patient is kept as comfortable as possible. Pain control and symptom control are the nurse's primary concerns.

Medical Social Worker – Assesses the psychosocial and spiritual needs of each patient and family and establishes goals in the care plan to meet those needs. Provides on-going counseling related to issues of death and dying to the patient and family as needed. Assists the patient and family in the utilization of appropriate community resources.

Volunteer Services – Trained volunteers are available to help in many ways. They may stay with the patient while the caregiver rests, help with yardwork, or cook a meal for the family. The volunteer can shop or run errands for the patient and family if requested or simply make regular visits to be a friend to the patient and family.

Chaplain Services – Provides spiritual care to the patients and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses. Helps patients and families work through emotions and questions about death, the meaning of life, and other questions that patients and families may be dealing with. The hospice chaplain provides insight and uplifting comfort.

Nursing Assistant Services – Provides basic bedside care to the patient. The Hospice Aid will often be the team member that actually spends the most time with the patient and family because they are providing the basic care in the home and helping the patient with the activities of daily living.

Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy – Therapy services are sometimes provided on a short-term basis when appropriate for the comfort of the patient.

Pharmacist – The hospice pharmacist advises the hospice and hospice interdisciplinary team on all matters pertaining to the procurement, storage, administration, disposal and record-keeping of drugs and biologicals; interactions of drugs; and counseling staff on appropriate and new drugs; inspects all drug storage areas at least monthly; and conducts patients' drug regimen reviews frequently enough to monitor symptom control, no less often than monthly, with appropriate recommendations to the physician and hospice staff.

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