Elements For the Home

St. Joseph Hospice, located in Baton Rouge, La., is a locally owned and operated hospice program. It provides 24-hour hospice care services through board-certified hospice and palliative care physicians. The center offers a variety of medical and support services, such as nursing and personal care, physician visits, counseling, and social and homemaker services. Its staff includes registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, mental health counselors, pastoral care coordinators, social workers, and speech, physical and occupational therapists. The center has expertise in medical care, pain and symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support services. It is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and various private and managed care insurance plans. St. Joseph Hospice is approved by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Home health aides, medical social workers, occupational therapy, physical therapy, skilled nursing and speech therapy are among the home care services offered by Amedisys. The company also offers specialized nursing programs, such as cardiac, diabetes, pain management, wound care, infusion therapy, oncology and psychiatric services. Amedisys home care agencies are Medicare certified and accredited or in the process of accreditation by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Amedisys, which operates in more than 15 states, was incorporated in 1982. In 1994, the company became public and trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol AMED. Amedisys has its headquarters in Baton Rouge, La.