An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, February 21, celebrated the completion of renovation work for the new, four-bed residential hospice center operated by Compass Regional Hospice on the third floor of UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.
Made possible by a formalized lease agreement between Compass Regional Hospice and UM Shore Regional Health in late 2017, the unit — operated by Compass Regional Hospice – offers an alternative for Kent County hospice patients who want the security of medical care around the clock but prefer the comfort of a home-like environment. Since November, the the formerly vacant space has been undergoing renovation according to a plan developed by architects from Hammond Wilson. It is expected to be open to hospice patient admission on or about March 1, 2018.
- Compass Regional Hospice will be responsible for all aspects of hospice patient care— staffing the unit 24 hours a day, seven days a week and overseeing its operations.
- Hospital patients who are deemed suitable for admission to residential hospice care must first be discharged from the hospital according to normal hospital discharge procedures, then admitted to hospice care according to normal hospice admission procedures. (Please note: Compass may admit patients to the unit from their homes or community setting as well as from hospitals.)
- Admission to the residential hospice center will be based on greatest need. Room and board fees are based on ability to pay.
As Compass has grown into its role as a regional hospice provider, it became apparent to their Board and staff that greater access to hospice services, including residential hospice beds, was needed in Kent County. From the standpoint of UM Shore Regional Health, collaborating with Compass Regional Hospice and facilitating the lease agreement created an important opportunity to ensure that “the right care, in the right place at the right time” is available to Kent County hospice patients for whom in-home care is not recommended.