Durango Herald reporters have been informing us about the changes in palliative and hospice care at Mercy Hospital CommonSpirit.
In November, we learned that Mercy Hospice House would be temporarily closed to realign with the CommonSpirit model. It is notable that the construction of Mercy Hospice House was fully funded by community contributions. Years of soliciting donations from the entire community resulted in great pride when it began receiving patients in 2017.
In the months since we learned that Hospice House was temporarily closed, we said farewell to the director of hospice services at Mercy. The most recent comprehensive article (Herald, March 1), attempted to explain the new for-profit model of outpatient palliative care at Mercy. The spokesperson for CommonSpirit provided only general comments. In the same March 1 edition, there was an advertisement for the Mercy Hospital Community Benefit Forum on April 13 with a registration link. I hope many community leaders and members will attend.
Like Karen McManus, interviewed for the article, my family experienced both palliative and hospice care for my husband. He died at Hospice House in August 2023.
It is difficult to express how valuable these resources were in preparing for the end of life with dignity and compassion. Patients today do not get a do-over on this final journey – no chance to come back next month or “soon.” I fear their experience is lonelier and sadder.
Myriam Palmer
Hermosa
