History of Hospice & Community Care
The history of this Hospice & Community Care began with one person’s struggle with cancer. In August of 1982, Ann Barron, who had been diagnosed with cancer, was hospitalized in Charlotte for terminal care. There, her husband introduced the family’s social worker, Len Anderson, to the Reverend Randy McSpadden of Rock Hill. The two shared a common interest in developing a hospice program. By the fall, Rev. McSpadden had assembled a group of local physicians, nurses, social workers, ministers, attorneys, psychologists, educators and prominent citizens who were interested in hospice.
In January of 1983 York County Hospice (YCH) was incorporated and a board of directors was elected. The first task of the board was to educate itself further about the models of hospice care and determine which model would best suit York County’s needs. The Board decided to apply for state licensure and certification as a home health agency. Application for a Certification of Need was initiated by Rev. McSpadden in April 1983.
The organization joined the National Hospice Organization (NHO) in May 1983 in part because the membership kept YCH abreast of the emerging Medicare benefit package. In July 1983, the Board organized a public meeting open to all York County residents to inform them about hospice care and the status of YCH. The Board gave careful consideration to which model of hospice care was best for York County and in October 1983 a community-based hospice care was selected.
The Certification of Need for YCH was granted May 16, 1984. The Board began concentrating on becoming operational by early in 1985. Numerous committees were formed and the education of the Board continued as final regulations for certification for Medicare hospice benefits were published and S.C. Hospice Agency Licensure regulations were obtained.
In the fall of 1984, the process of hiring staff began. Len Anderson became the Executive Director. The first volunteer training program was offered in November 1984.
YCH received its provisional license as both a hospice and home health agency on January 29, 1985. The first YCH patient was also seen in January, 1985. Nursing, social work, home health assistance, physical therapy, volunteer and bereavement care follow-up was provided then as it is today.
In March 1985, after serving several families, YCH was awarded its permanent license. So successfully did the dedicated team work together that 94% of patients cared for that year remained at home from referral through death. This is a very impressive statistic in a community in which home care for the dying had never been viewed as a viable option by the medical community or the community at large.
In July 1988, YCH received approval for the Hospice Medicare Benefit (HMB), which allowed YCH to receive Medicare reimbursement for eligible patients. This benefit has provides a substantial base for the ongoing funding of the hospice program.
Hospice expanded into Chester County in 1991 to meet the needs of those patients, families and physicians who requested hospice services outside of York County. In 1994, services were expanded into Cherokee, Lancaster, Union and Fairfield counties to bring the expertise and quality care to surrounding communities.
In 1994, an umbrella corporation, Carolina Community Care, Inc. was created to include the hospice programs and home health agency. In 1996, YCH changed its name to Hospice Community Care to more accurately reflect our multi-county service area.
Realizing increasing numbers of patients were not appropriate for end-of-life care in their homes, in 1997, Good Folks of York County provided the seed funding to implement a hospice house. A planning committee made up of members of the Board of Directors, staff and community was formed in 1999 to begin evaluating the need for a hospice house facility to better serve the communitys' needs. The Campaign for Hope is actively soliciting financial support through grants and foundations, as well as private individual contributions.
Hospice Community Care expanded outreach programs in an effort to continue to increase education and awareness about hospice and related services in the community. In July of 2001, the organization opened a York Branch Office which was utilized as a setting for support groups and educational programs.
During the past five years Hospice Community Care has expanded its mission and strategic plan to emphasize excellence in care, community education and outreach. Subsequently, Hospice & Community Care has doubled the number of patients served annually.
Over 3,100 persons attended Hospice outreach programs during 2002. This strong focus on community education concerning hospice care, grief and loss, and end-of-life planning led the Board of Directors to vote, changing the agency name from Hospice Community Care to Hospice & Community Care.
CAROLINA COMMUNITY CARE, INC. d.b.a. Hospice & Community Care
