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SUPPLEMENT TO THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
What Does HOSPICE Mean To You?
By Tim Poole, Executive Director
Hospice of Houston County
This is a question we at Hospice of
Houston County may ask of those that
we come in contact with throughout our
day, and it is one that is usually thought
provoking for the one we are asking. The
responses can vary, but we have heard
one response that has been consistently
given as our staff has talked about
hospice with those in our community.
The response is this: “I thought that
hospice was....hospice. I really thought
that hospice was one large organization
that helped the patient and his family for
the end-of-life situation. I didn’t know
that there were several different hospice
providers to choose from. I thought that
it was all the same.”
One thing that we are seeing in our local
and outlying communities is the lack
of understanding about how “hospice”
operates and the distinctions between
hospice providers. Many honestly don’t
know that there are differences between
hospices—all hospice providers are not
the same.
You might ask, what would some of
the differences be between the various
hospice providers? One thing that many
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Georgia Heart Physicians, LLC.
“Your heart deserves the best care "
105 Avera Drive • Fort Valley, GA 654 First Street • Macon, GA
478-827-1444 478-738-9443
people do not know is that some hospice
providers are for-profit organizations.
Not all hospice providers are non-profits.
Hospice of Houston County operates as
a non-profit ministry to our community.
A second distinction between the for
profit and the non-profit h ispice provider
is in relation to donations. Contributions
to a non-profit hospice to provide much
needed services to the community, such
as providing support and comfort to
those who have experienced the loss of
a loved one.
It would be impossible for me to say
how each and every hospice operates
their business. However, one thing I can
knowingly respond to is how Hospice of
Houston County operates. We operate as
a 50i©(3) non-profit organization that
ministers to those patients and families
experiencing an end-of-life situation.
We are a Christian-based ministry that
is determined to serve our community
with love, dignity and respect.
It is upon this foundation that we
gladly serve those around us and do
so as a privilege and honor. If one day
someone asks you, “What does hospice
mean to you?”, I hope you will have
heard about the ministry of Hospice of
Houston County and that your thoughts
Heart disease is a lead
ing cause of death in
Georgia. Major risk
factors for heart disease include
high blood pressure, diabetes,
high cholesterol, smoking and a
family history of heart disease.
Common symptoms of heart
disease include chest pain,
shortness of breath, heart pal
. pitations, leg swelling, dizziness
on hospice will be
heart-felt thoughts
of people caring for
people.
DID YOU KNOW?...
Hospice of Houston
County is unique.
HOHC provides a
variety of quality
services meeting the
needs presented by
out community.
l. Hospice of
Houston County
serves ALL of Middle
Georgia. It is not
necessary to live in
Houston County to
receive care from
HOHC. Counties
served include:
Bleckley, Bibb,
Crawford, Dooly,
Houston, Macon, Peach, Pulaski, Taylor
and Twiggs.
2. HOHC provides “hospital” care
to patients who need round-the-clock
attention in our Serenity Gate unit at the
Perry Hospital
3. HOHC offers ongoing support
and blackout spells.
If you have experienced these
symptoms or if you have risk
factors, you may need further
evaluation.
At Georgia Heart Physicians,
LLC, we are committed to the
goal of providing our patients
with the highest quality of com
prehensive cardiovascular care.
Our services include cardiol
ogy consultations, non-invasive
tests including echo-cardiolo-
We accept Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurances.
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groups to all people at no charge.
4. Camp Wings is an annual event for
HOHC. This weekend camp experience
is available to kids between 6 and 16 who
have experienced loss. It is not necessary
to be receiving hospice service to attend
this camp.
Sm HOSPICE, pg. 21
grams and stress tests, cardial
catheterization, coronary angio
plasty and stenting, and other
therapeutic interventions.
Our physicians, Dr. Obi Em
erole and Dr. Chuck Nwabue
bo, are board-certified car
diologists who are affiliated
with Peach Regional Medical
Center in Fort Valley, Medical
Center of Central Georgia in
Macon and Coliseum Medical
Centers in Macon.
HEALTHCARE GUIDE 2007
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