Tidewell opens inpatient hospice

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Hospice patients living in the Lakewood Ranch area now have a more comfortable and local alternative thanks to a new collaboration between Tidewell Hospice and the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

On June 4, Tidewell opened the Tidewell Care Center at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, creating the area’s first inpatient unit located within a hospital.

The new six-bed Tidewell Care Center provides a convenient alternative for patients residing in the Lakewood Ranch area, who previously would’ve had to transfer to Tidewell’s hospice houses in Ellenton and Sarasota for inpatient care.

“It’s very comfortable and there’s less disruption and upheaval,” Tidewell CEO Gerry Radford said. “Now they just get a beautiful, home-like environment within a hospital. It’s a great advantage to them. They are already in a precarious state, and this is more advantageous. Families don’t have to go looking for a new location.”

With the creation of the Tidewell Care Center, Tidewell Hospice has increased the number of inpatient beds available to area hospice patients from 18 to 24.

Under the new agreement, the Tidewell Care Center, which is located on the hospital’s third floor and features six private rooms, is staffed 24/7 by experienced Tidewell clinical professionals, operating independently of the hospital.

Tidewell also supplies its own medication and supplies, but shares services, such as linens, dietary options and cleaning services, with the hospital.

As a result, families have the option of staying beside their loved ones without having to worry about designated visiting hours.

“They never have to leave the bedside of their loved one,” Radford said.

Tidewell began looking into the process of having a hospice house within a hospital after hearing how other hospice organizations, particularly on the east coast of Florida and up North, had done it and their motivation behind the decision.

“It’s something I’m hoping will be accepted and valued by other hospitals in the area,” Radford said.

Tidewell has committed significant time and resources to address end-of-life issues and palliative care in a local facility.

“I hope that other hospitals also see the value in it and begin discussions to do the same thing,” Radford said. “To me, it’s so logical. It’s a perfect fit for families and patients.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].