WHAT IS HOSPICE?

Hospice is a type of care that is an option for a person with a terminal illness that focuses on quality of life when the length of life cannot be extended.   Hospice accepts that death is a natural process of life; and does not hasten or prolong death.  Hospice provides pain and symptom management instead of curative aggressive treatment. 

HOW DOES HOSPICE CARE WORK?

A person receiving hospice care will have regular visits from team members.  During these visits the hospice team will assess patient’s condition, provide education and training on caring for their loved one.   A comprehensive plan of care will be formed to meet each patient’s needs based on symptom management and comfort related to their personal condition and end of life goals.  This team advocates for the patient and families in making healthcare decisions and assist in finding local agencies/community resources to help meet the needs of our patient and families.  The hospice team works to identify emotional and spiritual needs of patient and family members.  Bereavement care is provided during the year following their loved ones death.  Speech/occupational and physical therapy are provided as needed.   The Hospice chaplain and trained volunteer are also members of the hospice team.

WHAT MAKES A PERSON ELIGIBLE FOR HOSPICE?

            To be eligible for hospice a person must be in the advanced stages of a life-threatening illness with a life expectancy of six months or less (if the disease progresses as expected). Some examples of these life-limiting illnesses are heart disease, COPD, cancer for individuals not seeking treatments, end-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and renal disease in a patient not seeking dialysis or transplants, stroke.  There are other diagnoses as well but these are just some of the most common ones.  Individuals seeking hospice care must have a primary caregiver in the home responsible for coordinating the patient’s care.  This person should also have a desire for comfort and symptom management instead of curative treatment.

HOW DO YOU MAKE A HOSPICE REFERRAL?

Making a hospice referral is really a very simple process. A physician, social worker, facility case manager or even a family member can make a hospice referral by simply calling our office and letting us know you are interested in hospice care. Once OCMC Hospice receives your referral information, we contact your physician to make sure he/she agrees that hospice is appropriate for you.  A member of the OCMC Hospice team will contact you to set up a time to meet with you and your loved ones to answer any questions you may have and discuss your personal end of life goals.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN ADMISSION PROCESS?

If you elect OCMC Hospice, a local specially trained hospice nurse will meet with you to discuss your goals, perform physical assessment and gather information needed to make a plan of care.  You will have some admission paperwork to ssign consisting of consent to treat, insurance forms, and election of hospice benefit, perform physical assessment and gathers other information needed to make plan of care specific to your needs.

HOW IS HOSPICE PAID FOR?

Most all insurances have a hospice benefit.  OCMC Hospice accepts Medicare or Medicaid, VA Benefits, Private Insurance, Private Pay.  OCMC Hospice provides care without regard to one’s ability to pay.

WHERE IS HOSPICE PROVIDED?          

Hospice can be provided in your home, skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility or in our local hospital.  

OCMC Hospice serves the following counties; Bradley, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Nevada, Ouachita and Union.  We are associated with the following Long-term Care Facilities in Ouachita County: Silver Oaks Health and Rehab, Pine Hills Health and Rehab and Ouachita Nursing and Rehab.  In Dallas County we are associated with St. John’s Place of Arkansas and Dalton’s Place at Fordyce Assisted Living.  OCMC Hospice is a non-profit organization.

WHO PAYS FOR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES?

OCMC Hospice provides prescription medications that are related to terminal diagnosis, as well as any medical equipment and supplies needed to provide care. 

WHO MAKES UP THE HOSPICE TEAM?

Our hospice team includes but is not limited to the following members: hospice medical director, primary care physician, nurses, certified nurse’s aides, licensed social worker, spiritual care, bereavement, speech, physical, occupational therapies as well as trained volunteers.

TYPES OF SERVICES OFFERED BY HOSPICE

                Hospice strives to provide pain and symptom management.  Medications related to terminal diagnosis and any medical equipment and supplies needed to provide care are covered by hospice.  Hospice team members provide education and training needed to care for a person with life-limiting illness, as well as emotional and spiritual support.  Short-term inpatient care is available when physician deems symptoms unable to be managed at home.  Respite care for caregiver fatigue, as well as bereavement services to surviving family members are also services offered by hospice.

OUR STAFF MEMBERS

• Larry Braden, MD., Medical Director, Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Physician
• Cindy Mounts, Director
• Donnie Betts, Operations Coordinator
• LaTaiga Porchia, Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator
• Elana Myers, RN Clinical Manager
• Traci Peterson, RN
• Connie Griffis, RN
• Christi Proffitt,RN
• Sharry Sloan, LPN Intake Coordinator
• Cathy McAteer, LPN Community Liaison
• Becky Haynie, Licensed Social Worker
• Russ Comeaux, Hospice Chaplain

HOW TO CONTACT OCMC HOSPICE

If you would like more information about OCMC Hospice, you can contact one of our team members by:

  Phone:       870-836-6055              Fax: 870-836-3621

  Email:  hospice@ouachitamedcenter.com

We would be glad to help you!