HPH Hospice

HPH Hospice (HPH) is a not-for-profit agency that serves Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties residents who are affected by a life-limiting illness regardless of their ability to pay. Initially established in 1984 to serve Pasco and Hernando County residents, HPH began caring for Citrus County residents in 2005 and is not affiliated with any other hospice.

Our Patients

Most of HPH’s patients are cared for wherever they call “home” in Pasco, Hernando or Citrus County. This could be a private residence, nursing home or assisted living facility. However, HPH also has four Hospice Houses and four Hospice Care Centers throughout its tri-county service area to meet the special needs of its patients and their family members.

Eligibility

Individuals who are appropriate for HPH care must reside in our agency’s service area and be diagnosed with a life-limiting illness whereby if the disease takes its normal course, the prognosis is six months or less. However, this is not an exact science and sometimes, patients are in HPH’s program for a shorter or longer time period. It’s also the patient’s choice if he or she wants to leave HPH’s program. The individual can return at a later date if hospice care is still needed.

HPH accepts individuals of all ages into its care program. On rare occasions, we have taken care of infants. While many life-limiting diagnoses are due to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), some patients are served by HPH because they have debility or complications due to a variety of medical problems.

Admission

Individuals must have a physician’s order to be admitted to HPH. If an individual or their family member is interested in learning about services, all it takes is a call to our customer service department at 1-866-940-0962. A customer service representative will speak with the individual or family member by phone and if it appears that hospice may be appropriate, make an appointment to visit promptly.

HPH Hospice Houses

For HPH patients who have a frail caregiver or no one living with them, one of our four Hospice Houses may be the ideal residential setting for receiving care, comfort and support.

HPH’s Hospice Houses are “a home away from home” for patients and provide an extra dose of tender loving care. The Houses are staffed around the clock seven days a week by extremely competent HPH nurses and home health aides who attend to patient needs. Our agency’s physicians, social workers, bereavement counselors and chaplains make regular visits and are always on call. Typically, the Hospice Houses have no more than eight patient suites so that the environment is small and homelike. This also ensures that residents receive superlative medical, emotional and spiritual care.

Each suite is private with its own bath. Patients are encouraged to bring small items from home to make their room more personal. At most of the Hospice Houses, meals are prepared by HPH volunteers 365 days a year. Patients’ loved ones are warmly welcomed 24 hours a day and can spend the night anytime they wish.

Hospice Care Centers

HPH’s four Hospice Care Centers are primarily intended for individuals who have a life-limiting illness and need short-term, specialized, round-the-clock care due a variety of acute medical needs. Each facility is staffed round the clock by HPH RNs, LPNs and home health aides. Hospice physicians visit patients seven days a week and personal physicians are encouraged, but not required, to see their patients and participate in the delivery of highly individualized care plans. Patients and families also receive regular visits from counselors and clergy while volunteers are present to offer comforting words and support.

All HPH Care Centers are designed to ensure the best provision of hospice services and the highest level of comfort. Nurses’ stations are very close to patient suites. The latter are decorated like hotel rooms with everything from wall to wall carpeting and artwork to lovely furniture. Every patient’s bed has an oak headboard and footboard. Family members and close friends can come and go as they please, always welcome to spend the night on the sofa bed in the suite.

Snacks are provided for family members at HPH Care Centers. In the
free-standing facilities, there is a large country kitchen where staff and volunteers prepare meals for family members and visitors as well as for patients.

Who’s on the HPH Team?

You hear the words “interdisciplinary team” a lot in hospice. HPH teams are comprised of physicians, ARNPs, Physician Assistants, RNs, LPNs, home health aides, social workers, bereavement counselors, chaplains and volunteer coordinators.

Billing and Reimbursement

HPH provides care regardless of one’s ability to pay and the agency bills Hospice Medicare, Medicaid and/or a patient’s insurance company directly. HPH’s percentage of revenue reimbursement for fiscal year 2008-2009 was as follows:

Medicare 78 percent

Medicaid 13 percent

Private insurance 9 percent

HPH provided approximately $3.5 million in unreimbursable care during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

HPH Volunteers

Volunteers are an integral part of the HPH team. While they are not involved in direct medical care, volunteers offer their services in a variety of ways based on their interests. In fiscal year 2008-2009, HPH hospice had the following number of active, trained volunteers.

Pasco County: 713
Hernando County: 407
Citrus County: 147

HPH Home Health

HPH Home Health is a not-for-profit affiliate of HPH Hospice that provides rehabilitative care to individuals in Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Pinellas counties. When HPH Home Health was founded in 2002, the agency was determined as it is today to provide a higher standard of home health care; care that combines the most technologically advanced medicine with the compassion and concern mirrored by HPH Hospice. From high tech IV’s to rehabilitation therapies, HPH Home Health offers a comprehensive range of licensed home health services. Like HPH staff, HPH Home Health staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In 2009, HPH Home Health admitted 2,040 patients.

To learn more about HPH Home Health, visit www.HPH-Homehealth.org