About Mercy Care
Mercy endeavors to be the premier provider of expert, compassionate care for people who are experiencing life threatening or chronic illness through well-defined, established programs in physical, spiritual, and emotional care. Because Mercy affirms life, we will excel at service and innovation that will ensure the highest quality care.
Mercy Care is pleased to announce that it has been granted accreditation from the Community Health Accreditation Program, Inc. (CHAP). Mercy is one of only a handful of hospice providers in South Carolina to have gained the coveted credential, according to CHAP’s registry of accredited agencies. While Mercy has operated under accreditation from JCAHO (formerly the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Health Care Organizations) for several years, that organization is hospital focused. By contrast, CHAP addresses itself specifically to home-health and hospice providers.
Mercy is a proud member of the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization.The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end-of-life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.
NHPCO represents over 80% of hospices nationwide. Over 90% of the patients served in 2002 received hospice care by NHPCO members.
Mercy Care is a proud repeat winner of the Herald’s annual Best of the Year award.
A Brief History of Mercy Care:
Mercy Hospice was formed in 1980 to bring a special program of caring to the chronically ill and dying patients and their families. Organized by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary and initially funded by both the Sisters and the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, Mercy Hospice of Horry County was welcomed into the Horry County Community.
Mercy served its first patient in July of 1981. Since that time, Mercy has continued to grow and expand its services. In 1987, The Franciscan Sisters of Mary transferred the management of Mercy Hospice to SSM Health Care. SSM Health Care managed the agency for about 10 years and in 1997 transferred ownership of the hospice to a newly created corporation, Mercy Care. The Board of Directors of Mercy Care represents the major hospitals systems in Horry County: Conway Medical Center, Loris Healthcare Systems, and Grand Strand Regional Medical Center
In 2004-2005, Mercy expanded its mission to embrace S.C.’s first multi-disciplinary service, Palliative Care, that provides care to ease pain and distressing symptoms for individuals who have a chronic, life-limiting illness, and became known as Mercy Hospice & Palliative Care.
Between 2006 and 2008, Mercy Foundress, Sr. Constance Fahey began teaching those who would follow in her steps and slowly retired from Mercy. She continues to serve others in need in the U.S. as well as missions to Africa. Through the guidance and active support of local persons serving on its community board, the agency has gained wide acceptance among professionals and within the broader communities it serves. As new and existing community programs and venues blossomed and flourished, the decision was made in late 2009 to do business under our legal name Mercy Care instead of our business name, Mercy Hospice & Palliative Care.
Our Mission:
Mercy Care is a non profit organization committed to comforting suffering persons with life threatening or chronic illness. Our goal is to integrate physical, spiritual, psychological, and social care by offering a range of innovative services that address end-of-life issues and bereavement needs of children and adults.
Sponsoring Hospitals:
Mercy Care is supported by the major hospitals systems in Horry County: Conway Medical Center, Loris Healthcare Systems, and Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. This unique relationship has allowed the agency to work closely with the medical staff at these healthcare facilities.
The agency is also contracted with Marion Regional Healthcare System, Georgetown Hospital, and Waccamaw Community Hospital. If a patient is a participant in the Medicare or Medicaid Hospice Benefit, they must be a patient in one of these contracted facilities in order to receive hospice care.
Management Structure:
Mercy Care is supported by a Board comprised of representatives from Loris Healthcare System, Conway Medical Center, and Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. The Executive Director of the agency reports to the Mercy Care Board of Directors and is responsible for the overall management of the agency. The Nursing Director and Director of Counseling Services report directly to the Executive Director and supervise the clinical care staff.
Professional Affiliations:
Mercy Care is a member of the Chamber of Commerce in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Little River, Loris, and Marion, South Carolina.