Understanding Skirball Hospice: A Q&A with Los Angeles Jewish Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Noah Marco

Home / News & Events / Newsletter

Understanding Skirball Hospice: A Q&A with Dr. Noah Marco

Sep 6, 2022

Among Los Angeles Jewish Health's many exceptional programs and services, Skirball Hospice stands out. Our skilled, compassionate end-of-life care provides patients and their families with critical support during one of life's most challenging times. We are proud to be a nurturing, collaborative partner in helping to meet their needs.

It can be confusing to understand the difference between hospice care and palliative care. Below, Los Angeles Jewish Health's chief medical officer, Noah Marco, MD, sheds light on what distinguishes each and offers an introduction to what makes Los Angeles Jewish Health the right choice for these services.

Question: What is hospice, and when should someone consider it?

Answer: Hospice services should be considered by an individual whose doctor believes his or her life expectancy may be less than six months. The decision to enroll in hospice is usually made when a life-limiting condition is believed to be advancing, when medical intervention has reached its maximum benefit, and when a patient or their representative decides to focus on maintaining comfort and symptom management at home rather than in a hospital setting. Hospice is a federal benefit that provides additional services not usually covered by other insurance plans.

Q: What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?

A: Palliative care helps optimize quality of life by anticipating (or preventing) any form of pain and suffering rather than treating an underlying disease. Qualifying individuals do not have to meet the strict criteria requirements of hospice to receive this care. The focus of palliative treatment is both on meeting the patients' physical needs with regard to symptom management and the psychological, spiritual, and social challenges diseases create. Many individuals start in palliative care until they meet the care criteria for hospice. Palliative care can be provided in a hospital, cancer center, nursing home, outpatient clinic, hospices, or in the patient's home.

Q: Where does Skirball Hospice care take place?

A: Hospice services are offered wherever the person is residing. Currently, 30% of Skirball Hospice patients are residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health, and 70% are community residents in the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles, and surrounding cities. The very first visit can even occur in the hospital. One of the advantages of Skirball Hospice is that our clinicians go to people's homes rather than requiring patients to find transportation to a clinic or doctor's office.

Q: What differentiates Skirball Hospice among other, similar hospice services?

A: Founded in 2002, Skirball Hospice is the only Jewish-sponsored nonprofit hospice in the greater Los Angeles area. It has a well-deserved reputation for high quality, caring service. Though our program has its roots in Jewish values, we proudly serve people of all faiths and backgrounds. We work with a variety of payors including Medicare, Medi-Cal, and most private insurances, and because we are a not-for-profit agency, no one is ever denied service because of inability to pay.

Q: What type of support does Skirball Hospice provide family members, both during hospice and after the passing of a loved one?

A: Whereas routine medical care can often focus on the individual patient, providing little or no support to family and friends who may also be impacted by the burdens of disease, the dedicated staff members at Skirball Hospice offer families compassionate assistance from the very first contact. Our response team is available to meet in the home or at a hospital or care facility. Our bereavement staff is trained and experienced in the areas of counseling, chaplaincy, spirituality, end-of-life, grief, and loss. Bereavement support at Skirball Hospice includes ongoing planned contact with the family through visits, telephone calls, letters, an annual memorial service, and referrals to community resources such as support groups. All participants in the bereavement program receive a comprehensive series of mailings on a monthly basis to help reflect on their loss and assist with the grief and recovery process. Our support continues for 13 months, covering an entire cycle of holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries and helping family members maintain or regain their level of well-being.

For more information, call Skirball Hospice at (877) 774-3040.

Prev Page Next Page

Share

Sign up for the Los Angeles Jewish Health newsletter, Connections.

First Name

Last Name

Email

Recent Articles

Dec 10

Women's Philanthropy Inaugural Event

At Los Angeles Jewish Health, Care Is a Two-Way Street

For nearly 20 years, Hangnga Vu, MD, has been a source of vital care and comfort for residents at Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH). They rely on her profound knowledge and skill to help them meet critical daily health challenges—and, over the course of two decades, she has come to rely on them for the abundant grace and wisdom they offer.Recently, after recovering from a minor virus that triggered a bout of vertigo, Dr. Vu realized just how powerful that grace and wisdom could be.“After getting better from being sick, I was back at work and participating in an event celebrating LAJH’s Staff Appreciation Week. My colleagues and I were dancing a little, which must have caused my vertigo to resurface,” she says. “Later that day, I was meeting with a resident when I lost my balance and tipped over a glass of water that had been sitting on my desk. The liquid spilled everywhere.”Dr. Vu was initially uncomfortable in her moment of vulnerability in front of a resident—until the resident demonstrated the kind of compassion and understanding that often comes with age.“He said, ‘You did well, Dr. Vu. You handled that nicely,’” she recalls. “In that moment, I knew he was caring for me as much as I was caring for him. I was also incredibly grateful to my medical assistant, who treated me with such gentleness and respect.”As Dr. Vu sees it, the reciprocal relationship between providers and patients is just one of the many things that makes LAJH special.“I’ve worked for other healthcare organizations, and I can tell you that you usually get 15 minutes with a patient, and that’s it,” she says. “LAJH is different: Even though we know cost-effectiveness and efficiency are important, we place even more emphasis on quality care and love. Our productivity is measured by the wonderful care we provide and by how happy our residents are to be here.”Inspired by her experience, Dr. Vu wrote a poem that was published this fall in the newsletter of the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical (PALTmed) Association. It is our privilege and pleasure to share it with Connections readers today.Hangnga Vu, MDMessy Grace: A Flood of Careby Hangnga Vu, MDToday at work, we had Appreciation Lunch — music, food, dancing… I joined in for a few steps, playing along like I had rhythm.Just a few steps — and the stars spun above me under the hot California sun.In the middle of clinic — while talking, while examining — I knocked over a full cup of water across the desk, drenched the papers, flooded the floor…My head spun. My heart, too.The patient sat there — not upset at all — watching me as if witnessing a gentle… summer flood.My medical assistant, remained calm. No sighs, no scolding. She simply smiled — and began mopping the floor, as if picking up the day, piece by piece.The patient looked at me and said: “You did well, Dr. You handled it nicely.”I laughed, a little stunned Because yes… I had just received a performance review on flood management.And just like that — doctor and patient set the stethoscope aside, and shared a moment simply… human. The assistant turned to me and said:“Dr, you should sit down. I don’t want you to fall. I can do it easily.”Then she held my hand. One hand cleaned, the other — and her heart — steadied me.At that moment, I knew I was being cared for. Not because I was flawless — but because I was surrounded by people kind enough to lift me even when I was messy.I told them, honestly:“In that moment, I was just… myself. No filters. And still — gently held.”Today was Staff Appreciation Week. But I believe — I was the one most deeply appreciated.I have some nice photos: with another medical assistant, with a few lovely patients. But none with this patient, the one who shared the messiest part of my day.And maybe that’s the point:The deepest kindness often needs no proof. Just a quiet presence — and a floor gently wiped. Thank you, B. Thank you, TP. Thank you to those who didn’t appear in any photos today, but left a print… right in my heart.

Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE Welcomes Jasmine Young to Its Executive Leadership

In her new role as senior vice president of Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC) PACE program, Jasmine Young brings a unique combination of clinical insight, strategic innovation, and organizational acumen that sets a benchmark for excellence. She is a distinguished senior healthcare executive whose career reflects more than two decades of transformative leadership, operational excellence, and unwavering commitment to uplifting the lives of older adults.From a young age, Jasmine was guided by the profound wisdom and support of her grandmother, mother, and extended family, each of whom instilled in her a deep respect for elders, a reverence for service, and a belief in the power of compassionate care. This intergenerational foundation shaped her calling to pursue a lifelong purpose in healthcare.“Helping seniors age gracefully and independently is the mission statement I wake up to every day,” she affirms.Jasmine YoungJasmine’s expertise in the PACE model is both comprehensive and distinguished. She has held major leadership roles at San Diego PACE and WelbeHealth, where she played an instrumental role in scaling WelbeHealth PACE, now the largest PACE program in the nation. Her advancement from director of operations to associate vice president, chief of staff, and now senior vice president reflects her exceptional ability to strengthen organizations, elevate performance, and build mission-driven teams that deliver outstanding care.Her impact extends across the broader healthcare ecosystem. During her time at L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan, Jasmine cultivated a deep understanding of the medical, social, and behavioral needs of older adults in diverse communities. She has worked closely with medical groups, health systems, and community partners throughout Los Angeles County and San Diego, giving her an unmatched familiarity with the Southern California healthcare landscape.“Jasmine is a seasoned executive leader with a consistent record of transforming organizations, driving operational excellence, and scaling programs,” says Larissa Stepanians, chief operating officer at Los Angeles Jewish Health. “Her depth of experience positions her exceptionally well to lead our current PACE sites and to drive successful expansion into new communities across Southern California.”A proud Northern California native with strong professional roots in the southern region of the state, Jasmine earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She later completed a dual master’s degree at the University of Southern California in social work and business, with concentrations in gerontology, organizational leadership, and development. Her academic preparation, combined with her personal purpose, fuels her dynamic and compassionate approach to leadership.At BCSC PACE, Jasmine is committed to advancing the program’s legacy of excellence while expanding access to high-quality, culturally responsive services for seniors in Los Angeles, the South Bay, the San Fernando Valley, and the Coachella Valley. She aims to elevate the organization’s signature strengths and replicate its successes in communities where vulnerable seniors need it most.“Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE and Los Angeles Jewish Health are already doing tremendous work,” Jasmine says. “My goal is to elevate that impact even further. We have so much to offer, and I am privileged to be here, committed to making a meaningful difference and advance our mission.”