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

Supportive Care Medicine

Our supportive care medicine program provides specialized medical care for individuals living with serious illnesses and their support system. Our goal is to enhance quality of life by addressing physical symptoms, emotional and spiritual well-being, and the unique challenges of major health issues. We partner with you to create a personalized care plan, managing symptoms related to your illness or treatment while maximizing your well-being and comfort at every step of your journey. Click here to learn more.

Spiritual Care

At Huntington, 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 from local parishes visit weekly 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
• Advance Care Planning discussions

Spiritual care staff are part of the hospital’s Supportive Care Medicine 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.

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.