About Us
We are passionate about the work and care we give to our patients and their families. The Story behind Good Shepherd Hospice.
Our Story
Serving Families Since 1995.
Good Shepherd Hospice opened its first office in Oklahoma City in 1995. Inspired by a mission of providing compassionate and progressive hospice care, founder Don Greiner led a small team of dedicated staff as they grew from their first admission on February 28 to 188 patients by the end of that year.
The name “Good Shepherd Hospice” was created by our company founder who was touched by a moving quote from Abraham Lincoln, “I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to go.” Wanting a name that would impart a message of comfort to patients and families and encourage staff to aspire to care for patients as lovingly as possible the image of The Good Shepherd spoke to this need.
Good Shepherd has grown into a multi-office organization with locations throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas. While the company has grown larger, Good Shepherd continues to operate from that same founding perspective of “putting the patient first.”
In 2007, Good Shepherd Hospice established the not-for-profit Hospice Care Foundation. The Foundation provides special support for patients and families, community outreach programs and hospice-related educational opportunities for staff members.
Over the years, GSH has been honored to care for many wonderful people who have lived their lives to the very end with honor and grace. These people and their families have, in turn, become our teachers, guides and inspiration. We honor their enduring and beautiful spirits by the way we continue to offer loving and professional care to patients and their families every day.
Our Mission
SERVING PEOPLE WITH COMPASSION AND DIGNITY.
Our Vision
TO PROVIDE THE EXCEPTIONAL HOSPICE EXPERIENCE.
OUR VALUES, THE PRINCIPLE OF
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
BREAKDOWN
What are the principles of R.E.S.P.E.C.T.?
RESPONSIBILITY
We are personally accountable for our actions and how they affect others.
EFFICIENCY
We recognize the value of the resources available to us and will use them responsibly.
ETHICS
We will not participate in or tolerate dishonesty or abuse. We are obligated to report unethical behavior.
COMMUNICATION
We communicate in an honest, factual, and fair manner and recognize the value of honest feedback. We will promote a positive environment, free of fear, harassment, and intimidation.
SERVANT ATTITUDE
We are givers, not takers. We are listeners, not talkers. We are promoters of others, not ourselves.
TEAMWORK
Our strength lies in our sense of family and the ongoing development of each other. We will work together to reach our goals, and openly celebrate each other’s successes.
PRIDE
We believe in the dignity of our work and the honor of our profession. We expect the best of ourselves and one another.
Additional Information
Medical Directors
Good Shepherd Hospice physicians work in conjunction with each patient’s regular physician, providing supplemental care focused on a higher level of comfort and quality of life. If the attending physician is not immediately available, hospice physicians ensure prompt medical decision-making.
Registered Nurses
Providing hands-on, individualized care during regularly scheduled visits, Good Shepherd Hospice RNs add a personal touch to professional services which distinguish our care from others. From coordinating medication and supply deliveries to answering patient or family questions to simply holding a hand in a time of need, our nurses are at the heart of Good Shepherd Hospice.
On-Call Nursing
For your peace of mind, a staff nurse is available 24 hours a day, every day.
Home Health Aids / Homemakers
In addition to care provided by our staff RNs, home health aides assist with personal care services that help the patient feel better, be more comfortable or just make the day brighter. Home health aides also provide homemaker services including light housekeeping essential to the comfort and cleanliness of the patient’s room.
Medical Supplies and More
All supplies, equipment and prescriptions related to the patient’s comfort or terminal condition are provided by Good Shepherd Hospice. Our trained staff members assess the need for these items and coordinate their delivery – one less worry for you.
Social Work Services
Our licensed social workers provide counseling to patients and caregivers for a large variety of needs, including help in resolving emotionally painful family issues or confronting and understanding the many mixed feelings that often accompany terminal illness.
Spiritual Counseling
Good Shepherd Hospice chaplains are available to all patients any time there is a desire for spiritual counseling, with the highest regard for the patient’s personal religious beliefs.
Bereavement Support
At Good Shepherd Hospice, care for the patient is only the first step. The family and their needs are just as important to us, especially when facing the loss of a loved one. Bereavement support starts at the first contact with hospice and continues throughout the patient’s illness and for 13 months following the death of a loved one. We respond immediately, helping surviving family members find healthy outlets for the emotional needs that accompany loss.
Trained Volunteers
Our program volunteers supplement the care given by our staff, adding yet another dimension to our comprehensive approach. Services include everything from visiting with or reading to patients, writing letters, listening to music, playing games, watching movies, etc.
24-Hour Continuous Care
Continuous care is provided during periods of crisis in order to allow the patient to remain at home. Nurses and home health aides are always available to assist in managing the crisis. Our social workers, spiritual counselors, and bereavement counseling services are also a valuable part of our care team during these periods of crisis.
In-Patient Care
Should pain or other symptoms become unmanageable and require inpatient treatment, we will contract for admission to a qualified general inpatient care facility until the condition returns to a manageable level. A co-payment may apply.
Respite Care
Inpatient respite care will be provided to the beneficiary when necessary to relieve the family members or other caregivers that are caring for the beneficiary at home. Coverage for respite care does not require a worsening of the beneficiary’s condition. Respite care is short-term inpatient care and is reimbursed for no more than five consecutive days per respite period. This care is provided on an occasional basis. Any number of situations may necessitate respite care.
Specialized Therapies
Should a patient’s terminal condition require physical, occupational, dietary or speech therapy, our staff contracts with a therapy department to provide palliative PT, OT, or ST therapy. A dietitian is available as needed.
Copyright © 2023 Good Shepherd Hospice
RESOURCES
SERVING FAMILIES SINCE