Pathways holds farewell event at McKee Medical Center as It prepares for opening of freestanding In-Patient Care Center in 2022
Pathways staff, volunteers and community members gathered at McKee Park in Loveland on Dec. 18 to say farewell to the Hospice Care Center at the Banner McKee Medical Center and to celebrate and remember those who have received care there over the past two decades.
Pathways Chaplain Carla Vogel led a ceremony, and hospice family members, staff and volunteers shared their intentions and hopes for the new care center. They gathered items representing their memories from the Hospice Care Center to create a sacred bundle that will be brought to the new Inpatient Care Center, keeping alive the spirit of those who were cared for at McKee.
Erin Beverage and Laura Whitney from the McKee Wellness Foundation also participated in the event. Over 20 years ago, the McKee Wellness Foundation awarded substantial grant funding to help Pathways modify, beautify and maintain the Pathways Hospice Care Center at McKee. “The McKee Foundation was honored to support the care center at McKee,” Laura said, “and we are grateful for everything that Pathways continues to do for our community.”
Through a partnership with Columbine Health System beginning Jan. 1, Pathways will seamlessly continue to offer inpatient services at Lemay Avenue Nursing & Rehabilitation in Fort Collins until its new 12-bed Inpatient Care Center opens in summer 2022.
“We are grateful to Columbine Health for helping us provide our community with uninterrupted access to inpatient hospice beds,” said Pathways President Nate Lamkin.
Since 1978, Pathways has been a leader in hospice in Colorado. Pathways offers hospice care, palliative care and grief and loss support for all, regardless of ability to pay. In recent years, demand for hospice beds has increased beyond availability. The six-bed hospice unit at McKee Medical Center was full one out of every four days in 2020.
The 12-bed Inpatient Care Center will help Pathways ensure that its patients receive comprehensive, hands-on care for generations to come. With the new Inpatient Care Center being built next to Pathways’ main campus at 305 Carpenter Road in Fort Collins, Medical Director Dr. Michael Towbin and the full Pathways care team will provide physician oversight and ensure patients receive the best quality of care, whether they are at Pathways’ Inpatient Care Center or in their own homes.
The new Inpatient Care Center is being funded by Pathways’ $8 million capital campaign, and in September, at Pathways’ A Vintage Affair, community members donated another $118,000. You can contribute to the Capital Campaign and help Pathways provide comfort and care to all of our neighbors who need it.
