HOSPICE HOUSE FOUNDATION GRANTED PETITION FOR HOSPICE BEDS

The Hospice House Foundation of WNC, Inc. has scored a strategic victory toward making a hospice house facility a reality for our community and all of Western North Carolina. On Friday, September 25th, 2009, the State Medical Facilities Planning Commission unanimously voted to grant the Foundation’s Petition for six hospice inpatient beds for Macon County. This paves the way for the Foundation to apply for a Certificate of Need, and to move forward with its capital campaign in order to raise the funds needed to provide a twelve bed inpatient/residential hospice house facility.

There are currently 28 Hospice Houses in North Carolina, but presently there are no hospice residences west of Asheville. There is a critical need in this part of the state for an inpatient facility, as reflected in the decision by the State Medical Facilities Planning Commission.

The facility will not only serve Macon County, but would be offered to all hospice patients in our surrounding counties, including Swain, Graham, Jackson, Clay, Cherokee and North Georgia.

An inpatient facility offers a home like atmosphere, that will help families and patients when care needs go beyond what can be provided in the home.

Quality healthcare services have been defined as the right care, at the right time, in the right place, for the right patient. Acute care services provided in hospitals and nursing homes are not generally geared to the unique needs of hospice patients and families, and do not fulfill the hospice philosophy. An inpatient facility will assure the continuum of quality hospice services for those patients that need and select this option at end of life.

The Hospice House Foundation became a non-profit corporation in 2005. Its sole mission has been, and still is, to provide and endow a Hospice House for our community and to support hospice. The Foundation is not affiliated with, and has never been affiliated with, any other agency or foundation. Donors can be assured that their contributions will be used for the sole purpose of providing and endowing a Hospice House in Western North Carolina. Contributions can be made to the Hospice House Foundation of WNC, Inc., P.O. Box 815, Franklin, NC 28744.