10 Questions You Should Ask When Choosing Your Hospice

1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PROVIDING HOSPICE CARE IN THIS COMMUNITY?
Hospice & Community Care was the first hospice in this area. Since 1985, we have been serving patients and their families in York, Chester, Lancaster, Cherokee, Union and Fairfield Counties with a guiding mission to give hope, comfort and compassion to our community when needed most. We remain the leading nonprofit hospice care provider in this area and dedicate our resources to caring for patients and families dealing with the end-of-life.

2. ARE ALL HOSPICES THE SAME?
No. Hospice is a medical specialty. Each hospice is a different company. All hospices have the same general philosophy, but their services may differ. Some hospices are for-profit corporations, while others, like Hospice & Community Care, is a nonprofit organization. It is your right to request the hospice of your choice if more than one hospice serves your area. If you want us to provide your care, be sure to ask for Hospice & Community Care.

3. HOW SATISFIED ARE YOUR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES?
In 2007, we received 100% ratings on multiple areas surveyed including: families’ overall ratings of our hospice care, the care we provide on weekend and evenings, and satisfaction with our volunteer services. In addition, 100% of the families we served said that they would recommend Hospice & Community Care to others.

4. ARE YOUR STAFF SPECIALLY TRAINED IN END-OF-LIFE CARE?
Hospice & Community Care employs two full-time physicians that specialize in palliative and end-of life care. By federal law all hospices must have a medical director. However, we are the only hospice in our area with two full-time physicians who manage pain and symptoms and who will make house calls if needed. We also have more certified hospice nurses and home health aides than any other area hospice. Hospice & Community Care is the only hospice in our area that is certified to provide continuing education credits by the South Carolina Nurses Association.

5. DO YOU HAVE AMPLE VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST PATIENTS AND FAMILIES?
All hospices have to have volunteers. We have over 400 - all of which have completed formal training in end-of-life care - which enables us to provide an elevated level of personal assistance to our patients and families.

6. DO YOU PROVIDE BEREAVEMENT SERVICES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY?
Yes. Hospice & Community Care provides a comprehensive range of free grief support services to all family members. The bereavement team follows the family for a minimum of 13 months following the patient’s death. Services may include personal visits, phone calls, providing educational materials and offering support groups. We also have a children’s counselor dedicated to serving children and teens in our community.

7. WHAT IS YOUR POLICY FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR SERVICES?
Hospice & Community Care is pleased to be able to care for everyone who requests our services, regardless of their ability to pay. As a nonprofit organization, we are fully committed to meeting our patients’ needs fairly and equitably.

8. WHAT PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS DOES YOUR HOSPICE MAINTAIN?
Hospice & Community Care is Medicare and Medicaid certified to provide care. We are active members of the Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. We are also members of the York Technical College Nursing Advisory Board, the Bioethics Research Group of the Charlotte Region, United Way of York County Health and Wellness Task Force, York County Legacy Group, and Piedmont Medical Center’s Ethics and Credentials Committees. Hospice & Community Care currently serves as a clinical internship site for students in Winthrop University’s Masters of Education in Counseling and Masters of Social Work programs, York Technical College School of Nursing and Continuing Education Departments.

9. WHAT HOSPITALS DOES YOUR HOSPICE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH?
Hospice & Community Care has contracts with:
Piedmont Medical Center - Rock Hill, SC
Chester County Hospital - Chester, SC
Springs Memorial Hospital - Lancaster, SC
Carolina’s Medical Center - Charlotte, NC
Mercy Hospital - Charlotte, NC
Presbyterian Hospital - Charlotte, NC
Gaston Memorial - Gastonia, NC

10. DO YOU HAVE A FREE STANDING INPATIENT CENTER?
Yes. In fact, we have the only free-standing hospice house in this community. The new Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House is a state-of-the-art facility specially designed to meet the unique needs of our patients and families.