Patient Supportive Care Services

Being hospitalized can be a stressful experience, and we are proud to offer support services to our patients and families.

Learn more about our clinical supportive care services as well as our non-clinical services.

We also offer support groups for patients and families.

Clinical Supportive Care Services

Palliative Care

Palliative care is a specialized medical field that helps people who have been diagnosed with a serious, progressive illness. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of an illness. We provide patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress with an ultimate goal of maximizing quality of life for both the patient and their family. It is important to know that palliative care can be provided along with curative treatment.

Click here to learn more about Palliative Care at Huntington Hospital, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Huntington Hospital participates in the No One Dies Alone program, providing comfort to patients in their final hours. Learn more about the program by visiting the No One Dies Alone page. You can also speak to your Spiritual Care or Palliative Care provider about the NODA program.

Spiritual Care

At Huntington Hospital, we recognize that being hospitalized is not merely a physical experience. Our Spiritual Care department has Master’s prepared, professionally trained counselors who are able to support patients and their families, of any faith or no faith. We believe everyone is spiritual, though not necessarily religious. Illness, injury and loss often cause one to reflect on the meaning and significance of their life, goals and beliefs.

Our Spiritual Care staff is available daily to listen and help patients and families sort through their spiritual and emotional distress and questions. This may include a spiritual perspective, prayer or blessing, if the patient or family so desires, as well as faith-specific resources.

For questions or to receive a visit when you are in the hospital, please ask your nurse or physician to request spiritual care for you, or call (626) 397-5051.

Arrangements may also be made to contact your spiritual leader, or to provide a spiritual leader from your belief system. Catholic Eucharistic Ministers visit weekly from St. Andrews Parish to provide communion.

Spiritual Care can help with:

• Emotional and spiritual support in times of pain, suffering, loss or stress
• Counseling for existential or spiritual distress
• Religious texts (Bibles, Koran) and spiritual literature
• Spiritual resources (Chant boxes, devotional booklets, prayer rugs, rosaries and prayer cards)
• Conducting rituals, prayers and blessings
• Facilitating visits from one’s own clergy or faith tradition
• Providing communion and other sacraments
• Decision-making at the end-of-life

Spiritual Care staff is part of the hospital’s Palliative Care Consult Service. As a member of the team, the spiritual care provider gives guidance and support to help patients cope with and plan around a serious, progressive illness. This includes the challenges in medical decision-making, which is often influenced by spiritual values and beliefs.

Meditation Room/Chapel

Our meditation room and interfaith chapel is located on the first floor of the Wingate Building, behind the Wingate Lobby. It is always open and serves as a quiet, peaceful place for prayer and meditation. You may access it via the bridge on the second floor of the East Tower, or through the Wingate building entrance. The volunteers at the information desk in the hospital’s main lobby can provide directions.

Huntington Hospital also participates in the No One Dies Alone program, providing comfort to patients in their final hours. Learn more about the program by visiting the No One Dies Alone page. You can also speak to your Spiritual Care or Palliative Care provider about the NODA program.

Non-Clinical Supportive Care Services

Pet Therapy

For many patients, shaking a furry paw or stroking a floppy ear can be the best medicine. That’s why a volunteer program in pet-assisted therapy (otherwise known as “PAT”) brings patients and pets together.

Because the Pet Assisted Therapy animals are interactive, they provide relief from long days or even weeks in the hospital. They help patients to shift focus from discomfort to pleasure. Petting the dogs provides sensory stimulation and a bit of exercise. The animals’ unconditional love and attention help to forge fast, easy bonds with new friends. The dogs brighten the day for just about everyone; patients, visitors and staff alike.

Dogs have been a presence at our hospital since 1984. In 1987, the program was expanded to over 33 teams of volunteers working with their own dogs.

Specially trained volunteers and dogs are available to visit patients in all units (except maternity). With physician approval, patients can request a PAT visit throughout the hospital, seven days a week.

For more information, please call: (626) 397-5208.

Reiki

Huntington Hospital is pleased to offer Reiki, an ancient practice that uses energy to promote healing. Reiki volunteers offer their services free of charge for patients.

Ask your nurse for an appointment with a Reiki practitioner.