Pictured above is the Hospice of the Hills team.
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (NARMC) focuses on providing quality care to the community throughout all stages of life. NARMC’s Hospice of the Hills provides end-of-life care for patients with terminal illnesses and their families in a home-like environment. As a testament to providing quality care, Hospice of the Hills received a spotless review from the Arkansas Department of Health in February.
The Arkansas Department of Health performs these site visits on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that healthcare facilities are providing quality care. This is an unannounced, regulatory survey that looks at the entire service line of Hospice. During the site visit, the reviewer spoke to staff members, patients, family members of patients and administration. The reviewer also looked over reports, charts, services, policies and procedures. The entire process helps to ensure complete compliance with Centers for Medicare Conditions of Participation. Failure to comply with requirements could result in penalties or status revocation. During the recent site visit, Hospice of the Hills successfully passed the review with no deficiencies.
“I am so proud of our hospice team and the volunteers who pour their heart into their work to ensure that we are providing quality care with compassion and dignity,” said Thomas Pepler, manager of Home Health & Hospice for NARMC. “The finding of no deficiencies is equivalent to getting an A+ on our yearly report card, and reinforces that we are doing things right for our patients at Hospice of the Hills.”
The Hospice of the Hills Hospice House facility is community-owned. NARMC provides the staffing and resources inside the home to support a family-centered care environment to terminally ill persons and their families that preserves human dignity, enriches the quality of life and promotes family unity.
“This is an incredible testament to the service that we are providing. Our staff is the best around, and it is a clear demonstration of their daily commitment to compassionate, high-quality and safe patient care,” Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Sammie Cribbs said. “Thank you NARMC Hospice of the Hills staff for providing the best in care, close to home during such an important time in our patients’ lives.”
About NARMC
NARMC is an innovative, non-profit healthcare system consisting of a central hospital in Harrison, Arkansas, and 18 clinics serving the rural communities of North Arkansas. More than 850 NARMC employees work together to provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services. As one of the Top 100 Rural Hospitals in the nation according to the Rural Health Policy Institute, NARMC has earned numerous 5-Star ratings from Healthgrades and consistently ranks high in patient satisfaction in Press Ganey ratings. A three-time recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Quality Achievement Award, NARMC is committed to providing the best in care, close to home.