The park-like setting, amidst the trees and flowers, reflects the homey feeling of calm at our Hospice Inpatient Unit or HIPU located at 1352 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah, GA.
During the current pandemic, we are taking extraordinary measures to keep all of our patients, families and staff free from infection. Watch this video for more information!
Our inpatient facility provides extraordinary comfort for the patient and their family. Click here to see a short video. Rooms are warm, spacious and beautiful; care is expert, constant and compassionate. Visitors of all ages can visit loved ones anytime day or night, and may stay overnight. There is ample parking on site for visitors, and WIFI is available.
Our Hospice Inpatient Unit (HIPU) team works with the patient and their family to fulfill their needs: physical, informational, emotional, social, spiritual, and psychological. Complementary services can also help with music therapy, story keeping, massage therapy, and even pet therapy. Volunteers provide simple conversation, companionship, help with short trips around the grounds, and offer a compassionate “ear” for patient or family members. Family members are encouraged to visit and stay involved with their loved ones; there are no limits on family visits.
The Hospice Inpatient Unit is the only one of its kind in our five county service area and marks Hospice Savannah as one of the premiere hospices in Georgia. It is professionally licensed by the State of Georgia and accredited by the Joint Commission.
Many long-time Hospice Savannah supporters remember the days when patients could stay in the HIPU for weeks or months on end. Increased scrutiny from Medicare has meant changes that are sometimes hard to explain to our patients and families:
When patients have difficult-to-manage symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting or anxiety, they may need Crisis Care (skilled nursing care in their own home) or General Inpatient Care in the Hospice Inpatient Unit. By coming to our HIPU these patients can avoid costly hospital admissions yet still have frequent interventions and assessments by our nurses and physicians. However, Medicare only covers short stays (a few days) of Crisis Care or General Inpatient Care and requires a plan to transition your loved one back home or to an extended care facility.
Additionally, exhausted caregivers can receive a break of up to five consecutive nights by having their loved ones come in for Respite Care. Medicare will pay for respite stays. The dates for these stays will be coordinated between the family and patient, their Homecare Registered Nurse and the HIPU Nurse or manager.
Left: After weeks or months of bed baths, patients enjoy being lowered into relaxing whirlpool tubs at Hospice Inpatient Unit (HIPU).
