New Hospice seeks to establish facility in Anniston

A Pell City hospice provider has announced plans to open a 10-bed facility in Anniston next year to provide care for terminally ill patients in the area.  Lakeside Hospice, a 22-year-old nonprofit, faith-based care center, plans to open the new inpatient care facility on 10th Street, on the third floor of the Woodstock Professional Building, across from Regional Medical Center.  Lakeside has already applied for a certificate of need from the State Health Planning and Development Agency to open the facility, valued at approximately $1.5 million. Under state law, a hospital, hospice center or other medical facility must obtain a certificate of need from the agency if it intends to expand or build a new facility that surpasses certain cost thresholds or if it plans to offer a new medical service. The agency is scheduled to review Lakeside's certificate of need request in February. If approved, the new facility will open six months later.