RMC sells outpatient hospice

1271289608 30 RMC sells outpatient hospice

The Regional Medical Center has sold its outpatient hospice program assets to a North Carolina-based hospice company.

Fayetteville-based Community Home Care and Hospice purchased the assets for $15,000, RMC announced Wednesday. The company agreed to have an office in Orangeburg.

“We are glad that Community Home Care and Hospice was interested in providing out-patient hospice services in our community,” RMC President and CEO Tom Dandridge said. “RMC is committed to taking care of the needs of our community,”

Dandridge said CHCH talked to all of the former RMC hospice employees about potential employment, but he did not know how many of the RMC employees will ultimately be hired.

The hospital’s outpatient hospice program employed between 12 to 15 people. It provided care and support to terminally ill patients and their families within the home setting.

The RMC announced in February it would make $3.2 million in “operational changes,” including the phase-out of its outpatient hospice program. The hospital has continued its inpatient hospice, Home Health and Palliative Care programs.

CHCH’s Orangeburg agency will serve patients in Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties.

“The RMC hospice model fits our company profile of excellent patient and family care and also complements our current service areas from our Columbia and Sumter locations,” CHCH President and CEO Randy Roberson said.

RMC also assigned its Medicare and Medicaid provider number, which is required to receive government payments, to the company. That allows CHCH to serve the Orangeburg area without having to go through the 120-day to 160-day application process.