Archbold Medical Center| Archives Magazine | Winter 2018

8 ARCHBOLD MEDICAL CENTER ARCHBOLD MEMORIAL Hospital will be expanding its services and add- ing an inpatient hospice center to meet the unique needs of patients battling life-limiting, terminal illnesses. Archbold is able to support a six-bed inpatient hospice center that will be housed on the fourth floor in the west wing of the hospital. The John B. and Elizabeth V. Wight Inpatient Hospice Center will be a true blessing for Thomasville and the surrounding communities we serve. “Building a new inpatient hospice cen- ter at Archbold comes with a large price tag,” said Vann Middleton, president of the Archbold Foundation. “At this time, we have secured more than 80 percent of the funding needed for this project.” The total cost of the project is $6 mil- lion. To date, the Foundation has secured $4.5 million in cash and pledges, with many additional appeals pending. “We are grateful for the gifts we have already received, and we believe that our community will continue to embrace the need for this service,” said Middleton. “So many families have been touched by the amazing work that hospice care provides at such a fragile time in the life of their loved ones.” The Foundation is actively seeking community support and offering a variety of contribution options. All gifts and pledges of $1,000 or more will be permanently recognized with a plaque on the Donor Wall that will be located in the main lobby of the center. What is inpatient hospice? Inpatient hospice provides around-the- clock service for patients with a terminal illness who require an advanced level of care that cannot be provided at home or in an assisted living facility. The goal of this often short-term care is to control severe pain and provide a comfortable environment for patients outside of the home. Holistic and person-centered, inpa- tient hospice care involves a team of professionals who prioritize a person’s comfort, support and dignity while addressing his or her physical, emo- tional, social and spiritual needs. Most important, inpatient hospice focuses on EXPERT TAKE COMFORT IN Chip Bragg, MD Anesthesiologist Archbold Memorial Hospital Alston Watt Board of Trustees Archbold Medical Center Holli Hutchison Johnson Gina Shumake Chairwoman 2013–2018 Archbold Foundation maximizing an individual’s quality of life, whether he or she has months, weeks or days left with loved ones. “An inpatient hospice facility allows family members and friends to focus their love and energy on their loved one as care is being provided in a peaceful place that looks and feels like home,” said Alston Watt, member of the Archbold Medical Center board of trustees. Why is an inpatient hospice center so important to our community? “Hospice is a service you are never really aware of until you or a loved one needs it. Then, it is invaluable,” said Gina Shumake, former chairwoman of the Archbold Foundation board of trustees. To date, there is no local inpatient hos- pice facility available that serves residents in the Thomas County community. Patients and families have to travel to Valdosta, Albany or Tallahassee to receive this service. “When my late father’s cancer diagno- sis went from bad to worse, we had to choose between an inpatient hospice facility in Valdosta, Albany or Tallahassee,” said Holli Hutchison Johnson, daughter Vann Middleton President Archbold Foundation THE JOHN B. 'JOHNNY ' AND ELIZABETH V. 'BETH'