Hospice of Palm Beach County - Licensed Since 1981

A Model Hospice Provider
"In all we do we help patients live fully and support families for the long term."

Hospice of Palm Beach County, founded in 1978 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), has cared for nearly 70,000 patients and their families and averages 1,200 patients daily throughout Palm Beach County.

A leading provider of hospice care, Hospice of Palm Beach County serves as a model for other programs nationwide. Our care encompasses all socio-economic and demographic groups. Services are provided at the patient’s home, in an extended care facility or a hospital. When acute care is needed, patients may be admitted to one of our six inpatient units.

Whatever it Takes

Hospice of Palm Beach County provides care to all who need and want it, regardless of insurance or financial status. Donations, grants and proceeds from fundraising events supplement the insurance reimbursement to ensure that cost for services is never an issue for our patients or their families. Nearly 900 highly trained employees and more than 600 caring volunteers make this a program that excels in innovative care and quality service to our community.

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Milestones in our History
February 27, 1978	Founded by Stella Monchick-West Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency
1979	First office donated in the Mental Health Building, 909 Fern Street, West Palm Beach Moved into a three-room office suite in Commerce Building on Datura Street, West Palm Beach Hospice Bill passed by Florida Legislature and signed by Governor Graham, one of the first states to do so, assuring that all hospices in the State of Florida would be licensed under same rules and regulations
1980	Average Daily Census grew to 20 patients and first 2 inpatient beds located at Noreen McKeen Residence for Geriatric Care, S. Flagler, West Palm Beach Moved into the Gallo Building on Dixie Hwy., Lake Worth
1981	Certificate of Need (CON) filed and Hospice License issued from HRS, State of Florida
1983	Hospice Medicare Benefit legislation enacted Helen Messic formed the Palm Beach Guild to raise funds for the Gerstenberg inpatient facility – project called "Stairway to the Stars"
1984	Moved to Bunker Road, West Palm Beach Certified as Medicare Provider Accredited by JCAHO, first program in State of Florida
1987	Certified as Medicaid provider
1988	Built the Charles W. Gerstenberg Hospice Center; administrative offices and 24-bed inpatient unit – the first freestanding hospice inpatient unit east of the Mississippi; one of three in country
1996	Developed Bereavement program Began the Music Therapy program
1997	Included SHARE, counseling for pregnancy and infant loss
1999	Began Camp Horizons for bereaved children Music Therapy Program accredited by American Music Therapy Association as site for Music Therapy Internships Christmas Box Angel Statue dedicated in Kelsey Park, Lake Park with HPBC being the first host site in the State of Florida
2000	Started Triage/On Call for after hours calls and concerns, manned by RNs and LPNs
2001	Jay Robert Lauer Hospice and Palliative Care Unit was opened at JFK Medical Center; the first hospice-operated unit within a medical facility in Palm Beach County; 12-bed unit
2002	Critical Incident Stress Management Team was formed and certified, first hospice program in the country to have all counselors certified
2003	Charles W. Gerstenberg Hospice Center expanded to include administrative and training space, new kitchen and dining area, parking garage and two more 6-bed inpatient units; original building totally renovated as well Bethesda Hospice and Palliative Care Unit opened at Bethesda Memorial Hospital; 14-bed unit Received accreditation as a Jewish Hospice Program by the National Institute of Jewish Hospices Selected as one of 8 sites to pilot the Partners In Care - Together for Kids (PIC) program to allow seriously ill children to remain and home and receive needed services
2004	Expanded unit at Bethesda Memorial Hospital to 18 beds Relocated Bereavement Center to an offsite location on 45th and Congress to better serve clients who found it difficult to come to Gerstenberg Unit Created LATIS, web-based information system Formed the Gardenia Team, a fully staffed bilingual team to better serve the Hispanic Community and our multi cultural outreach program to meet needs of Hispanic, African American and Haitian communities
2005	Opened the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at Good Samaritan Medical Center, a 16-bed unit Started Harmony Integrative Therapies to provide complementary therapies such as massage and aroma and Reiki Received accreditation by the Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis, Inc. as Jewish Hospice Opened offices in Boynton Beach and Belle Glade
2006	Opened office in Boca Raton
2007	Received Gold Standard Accreditation from JCAHO Renamed John J. Brogan Bereavement Center and established quasi-endowment to support operations Awarded Non-Profit of the Year by the Chamber of the Palm Beaches Opened the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center on July 17th – a 12 bed unit Created the Hospice Legacy Society to recognize those who have selected us for a planned gift Created a parent holding company and separate foundation which will manage funds donated to Hospice of Palm Beach County and the affiliate companies under the parent company Purchased The Medical Store After Hours Triage/On Call program received the Award of Excellence from Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc. Opened the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at Pinecrest Delray on Dec 4th – 14 bed unit on the second floor of the Pinecrest Rehabilitative Hospital (our sixth inpatient unit) Closed Resale Shop on Belvedere and expanded the shop on Cherry Road and Military Trail, as well as the Shop in Wellington Rebranded our messaging and look – "We’re There" Opened office in Lake Worth
2008	Celebrated 30 Years of Caring Launched Hospice Partners On Call, an after-hours triage program for hospice providers nationwide Awarded Non-Profit of the Year by the North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Launched the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program to further education for this emerging sub-specialty
2009	Opened office in Juno Beach Established a Board of Directors for Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation Reorganization of supportive care division to optimize patient care. Combining volunteers with bereavement and general counseling enabling our teams to operate more efficiently and effectively Expanded volunteer program by adding a professional volunteer program we are able to utilize the services of experienced professionals such as chaplains, accountants, and integrative therapists. Established the Caring & Sharing employee giving campaign with the staff pledging more than $80,000 to the organization.