Affinis Hospice is a Medicare- and Medicaid-certified provider of hospice care, serving 146 counties from 11 regional offices across the state. Affinis Hospice provides a comprehensive approach to the care and well-being of patients facing a terminal illness. Individualized care is provided by a collaborative team of medical personnel, chaplains and local volunteers and designed to meet the varied needs of both the patient and their family members. A key aim is for the patient to experience peacefulness in the final stage of life. Affinis opened in 2010, with Vidalia, Georgia, as the first office.

 Affinis is a key partner to CHSGa’s skilled nursing centers across the state. Ethica patients have a major impact on Affinis census, with 72% of patients served by Affinis residing in nursing centers (served on-site) and the remaining 28% served in the community. Nearly 88% of all hospice care provided to Ethica nursing centers is delivered by Affinis (May 2023 census). 

Offices are located in 11 communities across the state:

• Albany
• Gray
• Athens
• Newnan
• Augusta
• Pooler
• Cartersville
• Pooler
• Columbus
• Vidalia
• Gainesville
• Waycross

Affinis Hospice patients must have a terminal illness, defined as a disease for which cure is no longer possible. Diagnoses must be certified by an attending physician and the Affinis medical director. Individuals meeting the terminal diagnosis requirement often enroll in hospice when they prioritize quality of life rather than curative treatment and begin experiencing the following:

• Hospitalizations or emergency room several times in the last six months
• New medication to lessen frequent physical pain
• Difficulty controlling symptoms of nausea/vomiting, agitation, pain
• Multiple falls over the last six months
• More frequent fatigue
• Weight loss
• Shortness of breath even while resting
• Recurrent infections and/or wounds
• Need for assistance with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, walking or eating

Benefits of hospice services provided are both clinical and supportive:

• Hospice Medical Director:
  • Works with the patient’s attending physician to provide palliative treatment options for patient needs
  • Ensures on-call physician services 24/7
  • Participates in the development and oversight of the patient’s plan of care
  • Participates in education and performance improvement programs
• Nurses:
  • Observe, assess and record symptoms
  • Work closely with physicians to provide treatment and medications for symptom management to promote comfort and quality of life
  • Work with care team to recognize emotional, spiritual needs that may impact clinical outcomes
• Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs):
  • Provide companionship and are a source of positive communication with patients and families.
  • Perform personal care and chore services as defined by the care plan.
  • Social Services—identifies social needs and acts as a resource and contact between facilities and families for placement or ongoing needs.
•  Spiritual Care:
  • Spiritual support to patients, families and caregivers, including a chaplain for non-denominational spiritual care
  • Provides a relationship that includes listening, companionship, and prayer separate from the clinical/medical routine, and without a religious agenda.
  • Support and counsel to hospice and SNF team members.
• Volunteers:
  • Offer assistance to patients and families through a variety of ways (companionship, caregiver relief, errands).
  • Can provide support in the centers with activities.

Affinis Hospice also covers:

• Drugs, biologicals related to the terminal diagnosis
• Medical equipment
• All comfort measures

Volume and frequency of visits are determined by individual patient need.
Affinis Hospice admits members with high rates of:

• Cancer
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• COPD
• lzheimers/other dementia
• Parkinsons

Levels of care in hospice are as follows, each with a separate reimbursement rate:

• Routine Home Care—provided in the patient’s home setting (any place considered permanent residence, including home, hotel, SNF or assisted living facility) 
• ​Continuous Home Care - utilized for symptom control in the home setting for a minimum of eight (8) hours in a 24-hour period; a nurse must be present for greater than 50% of the time
• Respite Care—care giver relief or in the event of a care giver break down; provided in a contracted facility and covers a five (5) night maximum at any given time
• General Inpatient Care—short-term care provided for symptoms not manageable at home in a contracted Medicare- approved facility including a hospice general inpatient facility, a hospital or SNF where 24-hour RNs are present