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Hospice funding
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patient's ability to pay. If a patient
has insurance, medicare or both, then
the insurance companies and medi
care are billed. But annually Hospice
of the Golden Isles absorbs $200,000
for indigent care. And it is the only
community based non-profit hospice in
the area. All of the dollars donated to
Hospice of the Golden Isles stay here
and continue to help local patients and
their families.
Hospice of the Golden Isles serves
five counties from its Brunswick facil
ity. The counties are include Glynn,
Camden, Charlton, Brantley and McIn
tosh. And most of the patients it serves
are at home.
"Cutting patient services is out of
the question," Brubaker said.
It's this kind of attitude that pro
vides the incredible care patients and
families already receive at Hospice of
the Golden Isles and that will allow
this hospice to continue to provide
excellent end of life care.
"Our primary move to mitigate the
fund cut is to form a Ladies Auxiliary,"
Brubaker said. "Janice Lamattina has
been named president of the Ladies
Auxiliary Board and the Auxiliary will
be our fund-raising arm plus support
the Hospice volunteer efforts and our
community education."
In addition to the Medicare cuts
new federal regulations, the first in
20 years, must be incorporated into
Hospice's current standards. "We must
be in compliance by the Dec. 2, 2008
deadline," Brubaker said. "It is very
labor intensive to incorporate these
new changes into our standards."
The most burdensome changes
required are reporting changes. For
example: the number of visits, both in-
house and to the patient's home, must
be reported by each discipline. Report
ing by discipline means every visit by a
registered nurse, nursing assistant or
social worker must be reported weekly
including the date and time of the
visit.
Hospice of the Golden Isles will only
receive reimbursement for those visits
deemed medically necessary to man
age a terminal illness. A great deal has
been left open to interpretation.
Hospice of the Golden Isles' whole
care plan revolves around the patient
and the patient's family. "We are not
just interested in the disease," Brubak
er said. "Our expert care is provided by
registered nurses, aides, social work
ers, chaplains, volunteers and a full
time medical director."
Care offered by Hospice of the Gold
en Isles includes routine in-home care;
in-patient short term care; respite care;
continuous care in-home for short peri
ods.
"We provide everything related to
end of life care. Prescriptions, medical
equipment, on call 24/7 personnel, and
bereavement care are provided." Bru
baker said.
"The patient is in the driver's seat.
Our care is individualized and we
honor each patient's choices about how
he or she wants to die," she said.
Hospice of the Golden Isles coun
selors follow family members for 13
months after a loved one's death and
26 months after the death of a child.
Individual counseling or support group
counseling is available. Bereavement
support groups are open to the com
munity. There are two different types
of support groups: some are closed and
some are open.
"I consider Hospice of the Golden
Isles a 'Jewel in the Community,"' Bru
baker said. "The value of Hospice of
the Golden Isles is that it has touched
the lives of so many people and it is
THE ISLANDER, JULY 28, 2008, PAGE 5
important for the community to become
actively engaged with us."
There are many ways to help Hos
pice of the Golden Isles:
• Volunteers are extremely impor
tant
• Financial support through dona
tions
• Providing supplies
• Sign up to serve on the Ladies
Auxiliary
• Memorial Brick program - pur
chase a brick in honor of a loved one
• Lights of Love program - kicks off
in November. Purchase a light to honor
a special person.
"We began the Lights of Love Pro
gram last year," Brubaker said. "And
the patients loved it. The whole build
ing was lit up."
Hospice of the Golden Isles' website
is nearing completion so on-line dona
tions may be made.
Hospice of the Golden Isles is located
at 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick,
Ga. 31525. For information concerning
care, needs or programs call 912-265-
4735. □
One of two fountains donated by North Florida Irrigation provides a
relaxing setting for patients and visitors.
Please come out and vote August 5 for
Pob Coleman
County Commission At Large
Loren, Krystina, Sherry, Bob, Jonell, and Lindsey
My Commitments to you are as follows:
• I will insist on fiscal responsibility with a focus on departmental efficiency.
• I will oppose any attempt to increase taxes. I will oppose a new SPLOST.
• I will oppose Eminent Domain in all but the most extreme circumstances.
• I will oppose a downtown jail expansion, AND I said that from the start.
• I will respect every person who ever appears before the Commission.
• I will suggest a procedure that allows for citizen input at every meeting.
• I will work toward a cooperative relationship with the City of Brunswick.
• I will endeavor to restore your faith in our local government.
• I wll always remember that I work for you.
Paid for by the Bob Coleman Campaign Committee