Thursday, July 1, 2010
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Missouri's Third Hospice House to Open This Summer |
NorthCare Hospice House will open later this summer on the North Kansas City Hospital campus with the distinction as only the second hospice house in the metro area and just the third in Missouri.
In summer 2009, North Kansas City Hospital and NorthCare Hospice created a partnership to renovate an existing wing of the Hospital into an inpatient hospice house for hospice patients needing short-term pain and symptom care.
“We saw the renovation as a way to provide a much needed service for the community within a relatively short period of time,” says David Carpenter, North Kansas City Hospital president and CEO.
When it opens for patient care later this summer, this inpatient hospice unit will have 16 private rooms, around the clock care in a homelike environment, open visiting hours for families and visitors, family kitchen, spiritual center, garden with walking paths, children’s’ play areas and library.
“As families enter our hospice house, we want them to feel surrounded by the support of our caring staff in a beautiful setting,” says Kim Logan, executive director for NorthCare Hospice.
Logan anticipates that at least 300 patients will receive care during the first year. She also projects hiring approximately 41 new employees over the next six months as NorthCare Hospice House becomes fully operational.
Chris Unruh and his wife, Becky, know first-hand the benefits a hospice house can provide when Chris’ father resided in Harry Hines Hospice House in Wichita, Ks. “A hospice house environment freed us from the caretaker role and allowed us to focus our attention solely on him. We could capture those final memories in a peaceful, respectful environment that we will remember forever,” explains Chris.
Anyone with questions about NorthCare Hospice House may contact Sue Svec, NorthCare Hospice, at (816) 691-5249 or email at ssvec@northcarehospice.org.
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