SHOWCASE MEMBER
Community Liaison, VITAS Innovative Hospice Care
Sara.burns@vitas.com
Sara Burns is a Community Liaison for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of the Greater Philadelphia area. With 15 years of experience working with the senior population in various settings, Sara has been with VITAS since 2013 first as a LTC representative in Delaware County and now as a Community Liaison to Home Health, Home Care and Adult Day programs for VITAS’ Philadelphia program. Sara’s personal mission is to help members of the community understand that hospice is here to help: to support patients and families with care and dignity at such a critical time in their lives. A graduate of Siena College and past president of a local pet rescue, Sara is also passionate about advocating for animal rights as well as her piano playing.
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® is defined by the needs of the patients and families they serve. Their first patient, Emmy Philhour, made this offer: “Help me stay at home, and I’ll teach you how to care for me.” VITAS’ founders agreed, and this commitment to service and learning still drives the organization today.
Like Emmy, each of the hundreds of thousands of patients and families VITAS’ caregivers have served has taught them something about compassionate care. Today, as a leader in the hospice movement in the United States, they are continuing to evolve and meet the changing needs of those with a life-limiting illness and their families. While adapting to the ever-changing healthcare environment, however, they remain guided as always by VITAS core Values.
VITAS Values
- Patients and families come first.
- We take care of each other.
- I’ll do my best today and do even better tomorrow.
- I am proud to make a difference.
VITAS Vision
For over 30 years, VITAS has advocated for the rights of terminally ill patients and their families. Their philosophy is that patients should be apprised of their clinical prognosis and be involved in the decision-making process that determines how their end-of-life care is provided.
Bringing the Best in Hospice Care to the Greater Philadelphia Area
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Philadelphia serves patients near the end of life and their families in five counties: Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia. The business office is in Blue Bell.
VITAS inpatient care is provided in convenient locations throughout Greater Philadelphia, including three hospice units in Philadelphia and one in Darby. Short-term inpatient care is provided to patients who cannot be cared for at home, or when a family caregiver needs a break. You can check out this virtual tour here or call to tour in person: [ Watch Video ].
But VITAS’s goal is to keep patients comfortable in their own homes, whether that is a private residence, nursing home or assisted living community. Along with end-of-life medical expertise, VITAS offers specialized services to meet each patient’s unique needs, including special recognition and care for Veterans, Music Therapy and Cardiac Comfort Care for end-stage heart disease patients.
In Pennsylvania, VITAS is Medicare certified, accredited by The Joint Commission and licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in five counties. http://www.vitas.com/pa/philadelphia-hospice
To learn more about what hospice is (and what it isn’t) please check out this video: [ Watch Video ].
or call VITAS at 215.542.3000