Delaware Hospice and Saint Francis Hospital Expand Partnership with Inpatient Hospice Unit in Wilmington

Located in St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, the unit will meet the needs of patients and families closer to home

Patients and families have compared the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford with a fine hotel. Every effort has been made to give Delaware’s only free-standing inpatient hospice unit a comfortable home-like feel—from the furniture, finishings, and plants to the mirrors that hide medical equipment. The state-of-the-art facility offers patients and families a welcoming atmosphere for focusing on their time together.

But Milford is a significant drive for families from New Castle County in need of respite care or a higher level of symptom management for their loved ones—especially during beach season. That’s why we’re so excited to announce the opening of our brand-new inpatient hospice unit in Wilmington on the sixth floor of St. Francis Hospital, a member of the Trinity Healthcare System.

“The community-centered philosophy at St. Francis Hospital is a natural fit for Delaware Hospice’s new inpatient unit,” explains the unit’s new associate director Charlotte (Cee Cee) Scott-Coleman, MSN, MBA, BSN, RN. “St. Francis has served as a beacon of light for the surrounding community for decades. Generations of children have been born there. Now, families will have a place for their loved ones to experience a peaceful death to complete the circle of life.”

We’re also thrilled to welcome the unit’s new dedicated physician, Dr. Cheryl Denick, MD, a hospice and palliative medicine specialist with a down-to-earth demeanor and a holistic patient-centered approach. A stellar new staff has been hired, oriented, and trained in both inpatient and home-based care, giving them the flexibility to move between our modes of care. Several of our current home-based care staff members have also asked to train for the new inpatient unit down the road. The energetic crew shares the conviction that this unit will meet a critical need in the community.

Closely modeled after our existing center in Milford down to the paint colors, the unit will include 16 beds (8 at launch), a meditation room for reflection, and a kitchen where families can share a meal and our amazing volunteers will bake treats. Of course, the exceptional holistic care we provide for patients and their families at the Delaware Hospice Center and through our home-based program will be the defining feature of our new inpatient unit at St. Francis Hospital.

“This unit is much needed by the community, and we’re here to stay. I’m excited to get the word out so people can come to know and appreciate the comfort and peace that Delaware Hospice offers,” Scott-Coleman smiles. “As we anticipate the opening, we’re making sure everything is perfect for all of the patients and families who will arrive.”

William Farrington
Digital Marketing & Communications Manager
Delaware Hospice, Inc.
https://www.delawarehospice.org/
(302) 824-4328

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