The delegates said the concept of hospice - where the medical, social, spiritual and emotional needs of terminally ill patients and their loved ones are provided for in one place - is unknown in their countries.

The medical professionals representing different specialties are on a one-month nationwide tour sponsored by the US Department of Commerce Special American Business Internship Training program, visiting government agencies, hospitals and other health care providers. They started in Washington, D.C., and will finish up in San Francisco after spending Wednesday touring Oakdale’s Oak Valley Hospital.

Hospice of San Joaquin was selected as the sole hospice provider on the tour because of its success in improving the quality of life of its patients through a comprehensive program developed over the past 27 years.

Founding Director Barbara Tognoli said besides providing compassionate care, counseling and support to terminally ill patients and their families, Hospice of San Joaquin strives to educate and collaborate with other health care providers and the public in end-of-life care.

"As a health care partner, we are pleased to be part of the dialogue among health care advocates throughout the world," Tognoli said. This is the first international group to tour the Stockton hospice center at 3888 Pacific Ave. along the south bank of the Calaveras River.

Hospice Community Outreach Director Gene Acevedo added, "It’s very fortunate for us to be the pioneers of hospice for our neighbors in Central Asia."

Dr. Lyaila Omarova, who heads the educational and medical department of the Kazakhstan National Research Center for Mother and Child Health, was impressed with the emphasis on compassionate care she witnessed at Hospice of San Joaquin.

"We have to study new programs in the United States of America, because it will be very helpful for my colleagues in all the countries we represent," Omarova said. "For me, this is a completely new concept. Having seen this hospice, I could describe it in the form of a project to our government."

The hospice philosophy and plan of care began in England during the 1970s. The objective is supportive care for patients and families through a team concept consisting of nursing services, social services, spiritual support and bereavement follow-up under the guidance of the hospice director and the patient’s primary physician.

Dr. Furkat Mansurov, an oncologist from Tajikistan, spoke for the delegation at the end of Tuesday’s presentation.

"We are emotionally overwhelmed today, and we will be thinking about opening up a hospice. We have been thinking about initiating hospice for 15 years. We want it to be something of this sort because it improves drastically the quality of life," Mansurov said through an interpreter.

"Just because they are sick, they don’t need to be isolated. It is important to approach from the religious and spiritual needs as well," said Mansurov, who treats many terminally ill cancer patients.