Hospice Inpatient Care

Hospice Inpatient Care is the highest level of care provided by Big Bend Hospice when pain and other end-of-life symptoms are unmanageable in a patient’s home.

Margaret Z. Dozier House

Our hospice inpatient unit provides a tranquil, respectful, and homelike setting for patients and their loved ones. Inpatient hospice care is ordered by a physician. Our Hospice Care teams evaluate each patient and make recommendations based on individual conditions and levels of care needed.

Margaret Z. Dozier House

Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House provides general inpatient care in a homelike setting. Located off Mahan Center Boulevard in Tallahassee, the Dozier House offers the hospitality of 12 private rooms and around-the-clock family visitation privileges.

Margaret Z. Dozier House

Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House provides general inpatient care in a homelike setting. Located off Mahan Center Boulevard in Tallahassee, the Dozier House offers the hospitality of 12 private rooms and around-the-clock family visitation privileges.
image of Big Bend Hospice Service area showing Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Bay, Gulf, Calhoun, Liberty, Gadsden, Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor and Leon County Florida.

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Our Dozier Hospice House establishes Big Bend Hospice as the only operator of inpatient hospice care across a region encompassing Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla counties.

What situations require inpatient hospice care?

Patients must require a higher level of care, directed toward pain or symptom control that cannot be feasibly provided in any other setting other than general inpatient care. Big Bend Hospice’s physicians follow Medicare guidelines to determine whether inpatient care is appropriate. GIP care is also appropriate when patients require frequent medication adjustments, observation, or other stabilizing treatment that cannot be done in the home setting. 

How does inpatient care differ from hospital care?

While both hospice inpatient units and hospitals aim to provide comfort and medical support, Big Bend Hospice’s inpatient teams focus solely on managing pain and symptoms related to terminal illness — with a strong emphasis on comfort and quality of life. In contrast, hospitals prioritize treating or curing medical conditions.  

Inpatient care is focused on creating a warm and familiar homelike atmosphere to allow families to focus on what matters most – time together. Our patient rooms allow family members to stay with their loved ones. We encourage our patients to bring items that make them feel at home.