Paul Outlaw understands the importance of hospice care personally.

“My dad came down unexpectedly sick in January,” said Outlaw, executive director of Hospice Compassus in Troy. “Hospice was important for me and my family during that time.”

Outlaw has been at Hospice Compassus for the last 22 years, but this will be his first in the new space for the service.

Outlaw said the move puts the hospice provider closer to Troy Regional Medical Center, which is a bonus for the business and its patients who are often referred from the hospital.

“When they call us, we can walk right across the street,” Outlaw said. “We are dedicated to providing care for our patients wherever they call home, whether in their own home, an assisted living facility or nursing home. Our new office will provide better access to our services with the goal of helping more community members experience the highest possible quality of life and benefit from more meaningful moments surrounded by friends and family.”

The mission of Compassus is to provide high-quality and compassionate hospice care to enhance quality of life for patients and their families. The supportive care team, which consists of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers, works together to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of their patients.

“It’s a very important time in somebody’s life; the way we see it, we only get one chance to do a good job,” Outlaw said. “I think it takes a special person to work in hospice.”

Outlaw said hospice is equally important for the family of the patient in his team’s care.

“We’re there for the patient, it’s patient-centered, but a big part of what we’re there for is caregiver support and family support,” Outlaw said. “It gives them the help and services they need. We’re available 24 hours a day; there’s always a nurse on call for them. A lot of these families have never taken care of somebody at home before that was really sick. We’re that support system for them. It’s not just the nurse– the aides help with personal care, the chaplain is there for spiritual support. Even after somebody passes, the bereavement support is in place for up to 13 months.”

Patients can find the new office at 1340 U.S. Highway 231 Suite 7, which is in the doctors center next to TRMC.