Covington County has a new hospice organization.

Native Emily Yard, who serves the company as director of office operations, is excited about the new venture of Southern Care Hospice.

“We were licensed at the end of November,” she said. “We are focusing on covering Covington County.”

Yard said hospice’s main function is end of life care.

“The doctors have to state that a patient has six months or less life expectancy,” she said. “We go in and take care of the patient as well as their family by providing clinical, as well as spiritual and bereavement care.”

Yard said she’s excited to be here.

“I have 18 years in hospice care experience in this area,” she said. “This is my first time in management. It’s my expectation for our team that when we walk in that we treat our patients and their families how we would want our families to be treated.”

Yard said she has assembled a team of eight – with room to grow – comprising health care professionals who experience in the various areas.

“They are all from this area,” she said.

Since the office opened, Yard said they have had a steady stream of patients.

“It’s just wonderful,” she said.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., but hospice services are available to patients 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

The company held a ribbon cutting even yesterday afternoon.

For more info, call 222-0404.