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Call 828.245.0095 or 800.218.CARE (2273)
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 336 Forest City, NC 28043
In the Inpatient Unit
SECU Inpatient Unit
Hospice Care in Forest City, NC
Visiting
Visitors are welcome 24 hours a day, as long as the patient feels like having company. Patients may bring personal items in, such as pictures, throws, stuffed animals, etc to make them feel more at home. There is also a playground area on the Inpatient Unit grounds along with children’s videos, coloring books and crayons that are available to keep children entertained while they are visiting.
Description of Levels of Care
1. General Inpatient (GIP) Level of Care:
GIP level of care is always short term. It is available for patients who are experiencing uncontrolled symptoms and need observation and or intervention. It is available for patients who are either experiencing symptoms that are not controlled. Some examples of uncontrolled symptoms are agitation, ascites, bleeding, cardiac failure, insomnia, intestinal obstruction, nausea/vomiting, pain, respiratory failure/dyspnea, seizure, wound care, renal failure, terminal restlessness, etc. There are specific signs/symptoms that must be present to show that the symptom is uncontrolled and meets the inpatient criteria. When a patient is GIP, a physician makes regular visits to assist with symptom management. GIP services are covered 100% by Medicare and Medicaid. Hospice accepts other insurances also, though the insurance coverage/benefits may vary. If a patient stops meeting the criteria for GIP, discharge planning will begin. Discharge planning options include returning home or to a family/friend’s home, placement at an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, or a patient may decide to transfer to residential status if available.
2. Residential Level of Care:
Residential level of care is for patients who lack the caregiving that their physical condition warrants. There is no limit to the amount of time patients spend in residential care; however, a residential patient must maintain a prognosis of less than three months. If a patient stops meeting the residential criteria, discharge planning will begin. Patients who access residential level may pay privately for the room and board based on a sliding scale. Inpatient Unit also accepts long-term care insurance and Special Assistance through the Department of Social Services.
3. Respite Care:
Respite care is available for patients/caregivers to access when a caregiver needs to take a short break. However, patients who need GIP level always take priority over respite care. Respite is funded by Medicare, Medicaid and some insurance.
Description of Suites
Each suite includes a bedroom area for the patient that includes a bed, nightstand, private telephone, cafe table with two chairs and an armoire, complete with TV/DVD/VCR and cable. The suites have a kitchenette with microwave, mini-refrigerator, coffee maker and sink. The sitting room area has a recliner and a pull out couch that can be used by a loved one to spend the night when necessary. All the private bathrooms have walk-in showers with a bench seat. Each suite has an exit door to its own patio area. The patios have gliding patio sets.
What should a patient bring to the Inpatient Unit?
* Medicare/Medicaid/insurance cards (including pharmacy cards).
* Copies of Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, DNR.
* Medications (Only current medicationss in original bottle, if none are available, Inpatient Unit will order).
* Personal items for patient (clothes, glasses, dentures, pictures, phone numbers, etc).
* Drinks and snacks for family to have while they visit.
Admissions to Inpatient Unit
All patients served in the Inpatient Unit have been certified by a physician to have a prognosis of less than six months. Admittance to Inpatient Unit is not on a first come first serve basis. Hospice prioritizes patients for admission by accessing their clinical, home, and family/caregiver status. Safety issues in the patient’s home and/or care giving concerns are considered prior to admission. Rutherford County residents always have priority, but out of county/state patients are welcomed when beds are available.
Patients may be admitted to Inpatient Unit directly from home or a hospital. Occasionally patients are moved to the Inpatient Unit from assisted living facilities or skilled nursing facilities. However, with the patient already being in a safe/stable environment, they are not as high of a priority. The facility has eighteen patient suites. Eight are designated as general inpatient (GIP) level of care and ten are designated for residential level of care.
Paying & Insurance
Payment sources for Inpatient Unit include Medicare, Medicaid, Special Assistance, insurance and private pay, however, no one is refused admittance based on inability to pay.
Hospice of the Carolina Foothills offers hospice care, palliative care, and grief counseling services for those in Rutherford, Polk, McDowell, Cherokee, Greenville and Spartanburg Counties in North Carolina.
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