Center for Hospice Care (CHC) has been serving patients in St. Joseph County since 1980. Since then our service area has grown to include Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, Porter and Starke Counties. More importantly, in those 44 plus years we have cared for over 45,000 patients and their loved ones through hospice, home health and palliative care services as well providing grief counseling and community education. But outside of experience and longevity, what sets CHC apart from other hospice organizations in our community?
Freestanding Medicare-certified Hospice inpatient Units
There are only seven freestanding Medicare-certified hospice inpatient units in the state of Indiana, and CHC owns and operates two of them. Esther's House in Elkhart is a seven-bed facility situated on 11 beautiful acres providing a nature-filled warm, welcoming home away from home for patients and their loved ones. In addition to a family room, kitchen, spiritual reflection room and children's play area, there are walking trails throughout the campus.
Mishawaka's Ernestine M. Raclin House is a 12-bed unit nestled along the shores of the St. Joseph River. Each patient room faces the river and has access for the patient bed to roll out onto the patio. The Raclin House also includes a family room, kitchen, spiritual reflection room, and rooms specifically designed for teenage and child visitors.
BreatheEazy and HeartWize
CHC's proprietary specialty programs, HeartWize and BreatheEazy, are designed to help patients avoid health crises that require hospitalization. HeartWize is a cutting-edge program offering patients with advanced heart disease an option for optimal management of their condition. When patients with maximally treated heart disease would like to avoid further re-hospitalization and are not candidates for further surgical procedures, HeartWize can assist the physician, patient and family to manage symptoms at home. BreatheEazy offers patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an option for optimal management of their care. Like HeartWize, BreatheEazy can assist the physician, patient and family manage symptoms of COPD at home.
Full-time Hospice Physicians
CHC is the only hospice organization in the area to employ full-time hospice medical staff, consisting of both physicians and nurse practitioners. While many hospice physicians in the area hold full-time positions with other healthcare organizations or have their own practice, CHC has two full-time physicians dedicated to the care of their hospice patients. Our medical director is fellowship trained and board certified in hospice and palliative medicine. In addition, we have a board-certified pediatrician on staff, making us the only hospice organization in the region that accepts pediatric hospice patients.
These are just a few of the differences Center for Hospice Care offers. To read more, visit cfhcare.org/differences/. When choosing hospice care, remember there is only one Center for Hospice Care – be sure to ask for us by name. All hospice organizations are not the same!
