FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2008

HILLCREST PARTNERS WITH CARIS TO OPEN HOSPICE CENTER

The only thing more difficult than facing a life-ending illness may be facing it alone. That’s why hospice care is so important, and now Hillcrest HealthCare is making compassionate, expert care available to hospice patients around the clock by opening the East Tennessee Hospice Center.

Alyson Cutshall (right), area sales manager for Caris, discusses the new hospice unit with Marie Alcorn (left), a specialist with the Knoxville-Knox County Office on Aging as Mickie Thomas with Hillcrest listens in.

The unit, located at Hillcrest West on Middlebrook Pike, is a partnership with Caris, a Knoxville-based hospice provider.

“Caris has a proven record of excellence,” said Carolyn Pointer, CEO of Hillcrest HealthCare. “We are very pleased to partner with Caris to provide this service to the citizens of Knox County.”

The hospice center is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, both residents and non-residents of Hillcrest. Patients can choose to stay for a few days or up to six months or more, depending on their physical and emotional needs. The unit can also provide transitional care to patients who are leaving the hospital to return home.

“We want this to be a comfortable home environment for any hospice patient who needs extra attention,” said Alyson Cutshall, area sales manager for Caris.

Caris has social workers and chaplains on staff to help patients and family members cope with issues surrounding terminal illnesses. The centerpiece of the unit is a fully furnished family room where patients and their families can share quality time. Because the unit is part of the Hillcrest West campus, hospice patients will receive quality, round-the-clock care from Hillcrest staff.

Hillcrest is the only senior care facility in Knox County to staff a full-time hospice unit.

Admission is available to any Tennessee resident as long as they have a physician diagnosis for their illness.

Hillcrest HealthCare, a not-for-profit organization, is the largest skilled and long-term care system for seniors and the disabled in Knoxville. Founded in 1960, it currently operates 560 long-term care and 28 assisted living beds on three campuses in Knox County.

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