Hospice of Baton Rouge

The Hospice of Baton Rouge, also known as Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge, is a not-for-profit hospice, which has served the Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana metropolitan area since its inception in 1984. The Hospice of Baton Rouge is partially funded by the United Way and is certified by both Medicare and Medicaid. As a result of being a not-for-profit hospice, The Hospice of Baton Rouge provides palliative care to any terminally ill patient with a prognosis of six months or less to live, without regard to the patient's ability to pay for any services rendered.
History
The creation of Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge was the vision of David Lion, whose wife had just died of cancer in Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in 1984. He approached David Haley, Vice President of Operations at the hospital, and told him that Baton Rouge needed a hospice. When asked why, David Lion went on to say that he and his wife would have preferred for her to pass away in their home. David Haley realized that if Our Lady of the Lake opened a hospice, their competitor across town, Baton Rouge General Hospital, would also open a hospice. David Haley began to form representation from both hospitals and the community so that the end result would be one strong, community hosipice. He became Vice President of the Board, but remained in the background so as not to create an appearance of a hospice supported by one hospital. David Haley was successful in obtaining $80,000 (split equally between the two hospitals) in seed funding to start the hospice. Don Berlin, Dr. David Kahn, and others were recruited to the founding Board. Once the Foundation came into being, they hired a small staff consisting of an Executive Director, a nurse and a social worker in order to commence providing for direct patient care.
In 1988, Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge became listed as a United Way agency and in 1991 renamed itself to its present-day, shorter business name of The Hospice of Baton Rouge.
Future
The Land Committee of The Hospice of Baton Rouge finalized their search of land for the new headquarters for the organization. This seven acre parcel of land is located on Quarter's Lake Road in Baton Rouge.
Board of directors
The Hospice of Baton Rouge is managed by a board of directors, consisting of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and Treasurer, an individual who was a former President of the Board of Directors, a Medical Director, two Associate Medical Directors, twelve regular board members, and a CEO.
Inpatient Care Unit
The Hospice of Baton Rouge opened its inpatient care unit, known as The Butterfly Wing, in November 2005. Currently located in the Baton Rouge General Hospital, Mid-City Campus, The Butterfly Wing is an eight-bed facility, utilized by patients who are either suffering from extreme pain, suffering from extreme symptoms, are closely approaching death, or need a place to stay while alternative housing provisions are provided for.
Greater Baton Rouge Metropolitan Service Area
Hospice of Baton Rouge services the following parishes in the State of Louisiana:
* East Baton Rouge Parish
* West Baton Rouge Parish
* East Feliciana Parish
* West Feliciana Parish
* Ascension Parish
* Livingston Parish
* Iberville Parish
* Areas of Pointe Coupee Parish
Accreditation
The Hospice of Baton Rouge is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program; the Capital Area United Way Chapter of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; The Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations' (LANO) Standards of Excellence; and is certified by both Medicare and Medicaid.
Fundraisers
The Hospice of Baton Rouge holds several fundraisers each year, with all proceeds benefiting the direct patient care for patients who could not otherwise provide for reimbursement of their care. Recent fundraisers include "Trees of Light", "Decorators' Show Home", "Bloom'N Art", and "Motown at the Museum."
Trees of Light
Individuals sponsor a light bulb on a live Christmas tree, located outside of the Shaw Center for the Arts of Louisiana State University. Sponsorship of a bulb is $25 per bulb and is either dedicated in honor of an individual or in memory of an individual. There is a ceremony held toward the beginning of the Christmas season, celebrating the beginning of the Trees of Light initiative.
Decorators' Show Home
A mansion in the Baton Rouge area is decorated and opened to the public for tours. Opening includes a Preview Gala, daily tours and lunches, and a Wine & Cheese Twilight Tour. The 10th Decorators' Show Home featured Nick Saban's former Baton Rouge mansion, which was transformed by twenty-one Baton Rouge designers.

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