Hospice of Ohio County

Hospice of Ohio County is for patients with a terminal illness, for whom life expectancy can be defined in weeks or months. Hospice is palliative care, with an emphasis on control of uncomfortable symptoms, not on curative measures.  
 
Patients may have any end-stage disease to qualify for Hospice.  It is not a "cancer only" service.  Patients do not have to be “homebound.” Hospice nurses and staff can do their best work with early referrals. This enables the staff to predict and prevent some expected crisis periods and also allows for a rapport to be established between the patient, the family, and the Hospice team. Anyone may make a referral, but a physician must order Hospice before care begins.


Hospice services are initiated by an interdisciplinary team with the patient's physician and other resources such as nursing, social services, chaplain, home-health aide, and volunteer visits. Care is designed to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient and family. Most services are provided in the family home, but patients can be admitted to Ohio County Hospital for symptom control or respite care if needed.

Medicare and many insurance providers pay for Hospice care.  Coverage may also include home equipment and supplies, medications for comfort, and staff visits.  Patients will not be refused admission to Hospice on the basis of insurance or ability to pay.  After the loss of a loved one, additional support is provided by Hospice for the family during the first year of bereavement.
 
Patients can be admitted to Hospice with a physician’s referral by calling (270) 298-9507. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  A Hospice nurse is on-call 24 hours a day, and can be reached by calling (270) 298-7411 and asking the Hospital switchboard to page the Hospice Nurse.
 
For more information, or if you would like to find out about becoming a Hospice Volunteer, please contact Director of Hospice, Suzee Young, RN, at (270) 298-9507.
 
The public may contact the Joint Commission's Office of Quality Monitoring to report any concerns or register complaints about a Joint Commission-accredited health care organization by calling 1-800-994-6610 or e-mailing complaint@jcaho.org.