New in-patient hospice program

Hope Hospice and Highlands Regional Medical Center have announced plans to introduce the first hospice in-patient care program in Highlands County.

Hope at Highlands Regional will be located on the second floor of the Sebring hospital in an area specially designed for hospice care. It will include seven patient care suites and a family room and will be attended by hospice staff 24 hours a day.

While Hope currently provides hospice care to many Highlands County residents in their own homes, the in-patient program will enable Hope to better meet special needs while offering the community greater access to services.

All of the hospital's amenities will be available to hospice patients' families, including food services and after-hours security.

The program is scheduled to begin July 1, according to Lori Miller, the hospital's marketing director.

Workers are painting and doing upgrades on the second floor, Miller said.

"Hope Hospice has served the residents of southwest Florida for 30 years and we were privileged to begin providing service in Highlands County in 2006. We immediately saw the need for an in-patient hospice program here," said Hope President and CEO Samira K. Beckwith in a press release.

"We were fortunate that Highlands Regional was able to make this accommodation, which uses our combined resources very efficiently and at no cost to the community," Beckwith added. "We are grateful to Robert Mahaffey, the CEO and administrator, for collaborating with us in this major step forward in local health care."

"This partnership will greatly benefit the community, as Highlands Regional Medical Center and Hope Hospice are both dedicated to providing quality, compassionate care, focused on exceptional customer service," Mahaffey said.