Introducing Comprehensive Chronic Illness Support Care Model  

 West Chester Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center has introduced a new, comprehensive Chronic Illness Support model, partnering with Penn Home Palliative Care to integrate palliative care, pastoral support and other services with its specialized clinical programming. Located at 800 W. Miner Street in West Chester, the 180-bed skilled nursing facility provides post-hospital care, short-term rehab and long-term residential care.  

West Chester developed its patient-centric Chronic Illness Support program based on a platform introduced by Marquis Health Consulting Services, its administrative and consulting services provider. “West Chester’s new program for chronically ill patients is truly a next-level model of care, and it is being supported by an excellent partner in Penn Home Palliative Care,” said Marquis’ Danielle Koons, senior regional director of market development. “There is great value in providing a holistic focus on both physical and spiritual wellness for patients.”   

The palliative care component of West Chester’s Chronic Illness Support program is administered by a trained team of doctors, nurses and specialists, and focuses on providing emotional and spiritual support to help relieve symptoms and stress. The goal is to enhance quality of life for patients and their loved ones.   

“Palliative Care is the art of limiting pain and other symptoms during a time of serious illness,” said Alicia Haegele, MSN, CRNP, ACHPN, nurse practitioner at Penn Home Palliative Care. “Palliative Care providers initiate advanced care planning conversations to better understand the patient’s and family’s goals related to their healthcare. The purpose of Palliative Care is to provide patients with comfort while improving their quality of life. When I think of palliative care, a quote from Maya Angelou comes to mind: ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’” 

The overall initiative is specifically supporting West Chester’s on-site hemodialysis program. It also weaves in disease-specific education and health coaching, multi-specialist led and coordinated care, full time respiratory therapy, social services support, and connections to community resources and life enrichment activities.    

West Chester (formerly Brandywine Hall) recently underwent an ownership change and is now leveraging Marquis’ established relationships with the area’s leading health care systems and providers to expand its program offerings. 

Brick, N.J-based Marquis Health Consulting Services provides administrative and consulting services to skilled nursing facilities and senior housing communities along the Eastern Seaboard. The organization’s operational guidance enables its client facilities to overachieve their quality and customer service goals by embracing a progressive, multi-specialty approach to healthcare.