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HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE IN SOUTH FLORIDA
MORSELIFE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE CATHOLIC PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES,
HOLY CROSS HEALTH
Elisa M. Halliley, MM, MT-BC
Dr. Melanie Skelton
Elisa M. Halliley, M.M., MT-BC, joined MorseLife Palliative Care Physician
Hospice and Palliative Care as a bereavement coordinator
and music therapist in 2019 and is also currently serving Dr. Melanie Skelton serves as the lead Palliative Care
as the intake coordinator for the palliative care program Physician for Catholic Palliative Care Services at Holy
connecting patients with services in the community-based Cross Health. Dr. Skelton is known for her collaborative
program. During the pandemic, she continues to provide approach to enhancing patient outcomes through multidis-
supportive counseling to bereaved families and offer music ciplinary team involvement. Dr. Skelton is board certified
therapy services to patients in hospice and their families. in hospice and palliative medicine, as well as internal med-
Elisaís near decade of related experience includes provid- icine. Prior to moving to South Florida in 2019, Dr.
ing music therapy to elementary school students with Skelton’s healthcare career spanned from surgical coordina-
developmental disabilities as well as patients in outpatient tor to hospitalist to attending physician. Dr. Skelton’s lead-
substance abuse and rehabilitation settings and memory ership continues to build trust and confidence in Holy
care facilities. Board certified, she served on the Florida Cross Health’s palliative care services within the community. She is well known and
Music Therapy State Task Force for three years. Elisa received her Master of Music in appreciated for her kind approach, warmth, sincerity and radiant smile, seen in even the
Music Therapy from Florida State University where she had also graduated with a most challenging of healthcare circumstances. Outside of her professional career, she
Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy. enjoys spending time with her family. She is a proud wife and mother to her two sons.
Teri Sasse, RN, MS Art Hoff, RN
Lead Clinical Manager
Teri Sasse, R.N., M.S., serves as the assessment nurse for
the palliative care program at MorseLife Hospice and Art Hoff currently serves as the Palliative RN Navigator
Palliative Care. Her responsibilities include connecting for Catholic Palliative Care Services at Holy Cross Health.
patients with care as well as with additional community He is instrumental in keeping the program running effi-
resources. Teri also helps patients better understand their ciently and in providing compassionate care to patients and
condition and medical care including educating patients families. Beginning as a pediatric nurse, he has since served
regarding their medications. With 37 years of experience in many diverse clinical settings such as rehabilitation,
in nursing and the health care industry, she is passionate orthopedics, travel nursing and providing nursing services
about informing the community about palliative care and for inmates in a federal correctional institute. After losing
available health options. Before joining MorseLife this his long-term partner in 2010 to colon cancer, Art turned
year, she served as a clinical nurse 3 on an orthopedic unit his focus to palliative medicine. Since then Art has used the
at Atrium Health in Concord, North Carolina. CPR and IV experience of being a family member dealing with loss to bring an extremely personal
certified, Teri received her bachelorís degree in nursing from Florida State University touch to those in need. Using his own loss as a tool to help others is a hallmark of the
before earning her Master of Science in Adult Health Nursing as a clinical nurse specialist care Art provides, and he is an outstanding patient and family advocate to everyone,
at Georgia State University.
including the most vulnerable people in our South Florida community.
South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com November 2020 23
