Palmetto Health discontinues accepting new patients at Bamberg and Summerville Hospice locations Effective June 8, Palmetto Health Hospice discontinued accepting new patients at its Bamberg and Summerville locations. All patients currently served by the program will continue receiving care or will be transferred to another program. Palmetto Health has decided to close these locations in an effort to concentrate on its primary service area in Central South Carolina.

Palmetto Health does not have any facilities in these locations and believes that patients would be best served by those who can offer the entire continuum of care. About 35 employees will be affected by this change. Palmetto Health Human Resources will be working with employees to assist them with transition including identification of other opportunities within the system and job search skills. Palmetto Health also provided counselors and chaplains to assist employees with the transition.

“We are continuously working to improve our health system,” Dr. Ellis Knight, SVP of Ambulatory Services. “We believe this decision is closely aligned with ensuring that we provide the best care for those we serve. This kind of change affects our valued staff. We would like to thank the staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication and the families for the opportunity to serve them. We are committed to identifying any opportunities in our system that fit these employees. Although these locations are discontinuing service, we still provide hospice care in nine other counties.”

Palmetto Health Hospice is a comprehensive program that helps individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness live more comfortably at home using a multi-disciplinary team that includes volunteers. Hospice volunteers are specially trained and have the option to provide direct patient care or clerical work at the Hospice office. Volunteers perform a range of activities from transporting patients to medical appointments to accompanying them on fun excursions to providing respite for caregivers.

Palmetto Health Hospice provides care to terminal patients and their families in eleven counties across the state including Calhoun, Chester, Fairfield, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda, Sumter and Union.