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The opening of Saline Memorial Hospital’s Hospice House on Tuesday was marked with speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the Bryant facility.  John Duke, a member of the Saline Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, and his wife, Nettie, visit the chapel in the new Hospice House that was dedicated Tuesday. The Roller family of Roller Funeral Homes donated $50,000 for the chapel, which includes a stained-glass window specially designed for the inpatient facility. (Courier photo by Lynda Hollenbeck)
“The new Hospice House will allow us to provide a unique kind of care for hospice patients and their families,” Randy Fortner, president and CEO of SMH, said as he welcomed people attending the event.
“This is just a part of our continued commitment to serve as the community’s leader in providing comprehensive health-care services,” Fortner said.
He pointed out that the 16-bed inpatient facility is the only one in the county “solely dedicated to caring for hospice patients.”
“The facility will meet the growing needs of patients and families requiring end-of-life care and will serve a 50-mile radius,” he said.
Anne Burns, SMH hospice manager, said the goal of hospice care is to “enable patients to continue an alert, pain-free life and to manage other symptoms so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality.”
Hospice House will offer private and semi-private patient rooms in a home-like environment that includes a family room, kitchen and dining area, sunroom and chapel provided by the Roller family of Roller Funeral Homes.
“We feel so blessed to have the support of many generous businesses and individuals in our community who have helped make Hospice House a reality,” Burns said. “This new facility will provide a conducive and peaceful environment for patients and families.
“We’re eager to get started here,” she said, noting that the facility will be taking patients as soon as the state Department of Health gives its OK.
Margaret Roberts, chairman of the SMH Board of Directors, pointed out that many struggles occurred along the way before Hospice House could become a reality. The project was not supported fully by at least two previous administrators of the hospital, she said.
“This was a long time in coming,” she said, while comparing the project to a train ride.
“There were a lot of bumps ... and once we almost derailed, but it’s exceeded my expectations,” Roberts said, adding: “It is so nice ... it’s like a home.”
Dr. Daniel Cartaya, medical director for the hospice program, said that studies have shown that “people in their last days would prefer to die at home.”
Many times, however, this is not possible, Cartaya said, but the inpatient Hospice House, with the available technology available when needed, makes it possible to offer a merger of home care and hospital care, he said.
Roger Reid, a chaplain for the hospice department, gave a blessing for the structure before the ceremonial ribbon was cut to officially open the facility.
Participating in the ribboon-cutting were Fortner, Roberts, Cartaya and Burns.
Also present were Rae Anne Fields, executive director of the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce; Bryant Mayor Larry Mitchell; several members of the SMH board; other community leaders; and a number of SMH employees.
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