A Cut Above

It takes a special kind of doctor to care for patients at the end of their lives. Hospice of Palm Beach County is fortunate to have those doctors.

From Boca Raton to Tequesta, Belle Glade to the beach, their physicians bring compassion and peace of mind to dying patients. Whether at home or at Hospice facilities around Palm Beach County, Hospice doctors administer the special care patients and their families need at this critical time. They use words like "passion" and "gratification" and "rewarding" to describe their Hospice service.

Dr. Barry Miskin, Assistant Medical Director of the Orange Team for Hospice of Palm Beach County who also cares for patients at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and is a trained surgeon, says, "I feel I really make a difference. I help. They are dying and we can't change that. I can be their rock, their calm in the storm. We take away people's pain and their fear."

They counter the perceptions that ministering to dying patients is a depressing task. "It's the most amazing thing I've done," Dr. Miskin says. "My life is so much richer because of what I do. I feel terrific that I'm here to help."

Dr. Antonio Mendez, Assistant Medical Director at Hospice of Palm Beach County and internist who practices in Belle Glade, also spends time caring for end-of-life patients at Wellington Regional Medical Center and Palm West Hospital. "It's a continuation of what I do on a daily basis when you can't offer more than comfort to a patient," he says. "I've been in the the community 20 years. When I see patients at home, I know their names and who they are. It's very rewarding emotionally."

Dr. Barry Lerner, an internist with a specialty in geriatrics, refers to his Hospice service as Assistant Medical Director of the Blue and Lilac Teams as a "calling." He says that taking care of patients who are dying is "sobering but great. It gives me tremendous gratification that I am relieving pain and suffering."

Hospice of Palm Beach County salutes their caring doctors for all they do. It is their unwavering dedication to the more than 7000 patients and countless families that has helped the organization become Palm Beach County's hospice provider of choice.

"Thank you for all that you do," said Dave Fielding, President and CEO of Hospice of Palm Beach County. "We are proud to have each and every one of you as a part of our team."