Dear Editor,
I enjoyed reading the front page article of the Review on June 13 about the Intrepid USA Healthcare and Hospice operations in the Highlands out of their Staunton office. I have no doubt that they are a fine company, especially since Dr. Barry Brown serves as their medical director. My purpose for writing is simply to remind the readers that for 27 years, Mountain Regional Hospice, based in Clifton Forge, VA has been serving the area as a “home-based” hospice, providing the same services that Jim Bay (RN and case manager with Intrepid) mentioned in the article. MRH has always used area based nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains and volunteers. We have also been very proud to have Dr. Michelle Ballou as our medical director for years. Mountain Regional Hospice has maintained an excellent track record and has gained the respect of area families and institutions. In our early days, “hospice” was a little known word in the Highlands, so education was much a part of our procedure. Also at that time, our board felt that hospice was not something that should be advertised and promoted through the media. But through our faithful services we have gained a proven reputation and a host of friends. We love the Highlands and we love caring for these special citizens. It has been my privilege to serve as a chaplain with Mountain Regional Hospice since its inception.
Rev. Bill Gilliland
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