The Shira Ruskay Center

Palliative Care Doula Volunteers

Most Doula volunteers visit one client at a time in the person's home. In addition to this core model of care, in 2007, a small group of Doulas began visiting isolated and seriously ill inpatients in Palliative Care units at several area hospitals.

The JBFCS Doula volunteers, who also become volunteers of the hospital in which they are placed, commit to 2-4 hours weekly and visit several patients who have been identified by the Palliative Care team. The Doula to Accompany and Comfort Program supervises and supports these Doula volunteers through individual conversations, group meetings and continuing education, customized to address this unique model and setting.

To implement the program at a new hospital, the Doula to Accompany and Comfort program staff meets with each Palliative Care team. Recognizing that each hospital has its own structure, our staff meets regularly with the teams to continue assessing the hospital's needs and facilitating best use of the volunteers.

The Doula program currently has volunteers at Mt. Sinai Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, Metropolitan Hospital and Presbyterian Medical Center.

Read this article about Doula Volunteers as Patient Companions at Mount Sinai School of Medicine/Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute to learn more about this model.

To explore bringing Doula volunteers to your Palliative Care Unit, contact Amy Levine, Director, (212) 632-4768.

©2010 The Shira Ruskay Center
135 West 50th Street, 6th Floor · New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212) 632-4608 · Fax: (212) 399-2475 ·
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