Hospice Care

Since 1979, Halifax Health – Hospice has established itself as the respected leader in the local community for end-of-life care, providing extraordinary and dignified comfort and compassion. Everyday we care for patients and families through a uniquely specialized team of registered nurses, licensed social workers, spiritual care counselors, Hospice aides, complementary therapists and volunteers who are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our hospice team can reduce physical pain, ease emotional and spiritual suffering, and facilitate financial and legal activities.

Halifax Health - Hospice

A career in hospice is one of the most rewarding.  Helping patients at the end of their lives is a beautiful honor. At Halifax Health – Hospice, we have been providing hospice care to our community for over 40 years. As Central Florida's top rated and most recommended hospice, when you choose a career at Halifax Health – Hospice you’re working for the very best. Whether you are an experienced hospice nurse or currently in another field of nursing thinking about making a change, Halifax Health – Hospice has a position for you. Our team is currently hiring CNAs, RNs and LPNs that have a passion for providing quality care to patients and their families during their last days.

To see all career opportunities, Click Here.

What Our Team Members Love About Halifax Health – Continuing Care

  • Opportunities available in multiple settings
  • Sign-on bonuses available
  • Achievement based bonus structure
  • Excellent benefits
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Career growth
  • Work-life balance

Halifax Health – Hospice is proud of being a leader in educating professionals and our community about the importance of quality end-of-life care. We strive to create and sustain a “teaching environment” for ourselves, patients, families and the local community. Consider making a call for further information for yourself or a family member, or consider scheduling a presentation about this very important topic for your community or church group.

Hospice Workshop & Educational Series

Our workshops and topics are created with the caregiver, the loved one, and the patient in mind. We offer many resources and education opportunities to our community to ensure that you understand the resources that are available to you. Some topics include Hospice Basics, Understanding Advanced Directives and Living Wills, Caregiver Workshops and Alzheimer’s Workshops. For more information or to schedule a presentation, please call 386.425.4701.

Advance Directives

We want to know what your wishes are. The key to making your wishes known is having a document that outlines your choices. An Advance Directive is a document in which an individual communicates his/her wishes about specific health care, treatments, and procedures, should he/she become unable to communicate those wishes or participate in informed decision making. Included in this document is a Living Will in which an individual directs specific treatment or procedures to be provided, withheld or withdrawn if the individual is terminally ill and not able to communicate his/her wishes about life-prolonging procedures.

Advance Directive Document

Halifax Health - Hospice 5k

November 5 at 8am - Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater, 2001 City Center Circle in Port Orange

Halifax Health - Hospice will be hosting the 21st annual 5K Run & Walk on Saturday, November 5 at the Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater, 2001 City Center Circle in Port Orange beginning at 8:00 am. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Halifax Health - Hospice Family Caregiver Program.

Race day activities include the 5K Run & Walk which begins at 8:00 am, a Kiddie Fitness Zone at 8:15 am for children 10 years of age and younger and a Veterans Community Pinning after the race. The 5K Run & Walk is part of the Live Your Life Well Series and Daytona Running Series and will be professionally timed.

Click here for more information or to sign up.

Camp BeginAgain Fall 2023 Information

Click here to fill out the application.

Driving for Hope Golf Tournament

Click here for more information and to register.

Click here to pay for your sponsorship.

Ways to Give to Halifax Health – Hospice

Donate

To make a charitable donation check by mail, please mail to:

Halifax Health – Hospice, Fund Development

3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL  32129

Contact Halifax Health – Hospice

For more information about hosting fundraising events, please contact our Fund Development Specialist at 386.425.4701.

For more information about all other ways to give, please contact us at hospicefundev@halifax.org or 800.272.2717.

At Halifax Health, we recognize the importance of creating a safe space for our community to acknowledge, process and grieve after the death of a loved one. Our bereavement department encompasses Hospice Bereavement, Children’s BeginAgain and Traumatic Loss programs.

Counseling sessions are by appointment only and based on counselor availability. Read on for more information about each of our counseling programs.

New to nursing but interested in a career in hospice? Our Hospice Nurse Residency Program gives new nurses the education and hands on training to start your career in the Hospice field of nursing.

Program details:

  • New graduate students will have a four-month residency
  • Curriculum includes Computer Based Learning and in person classroom lectures (in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines), simulated patient care scenarios, field observations and guided mentorship by a dedicated preceptor
  • Classroom training will be based out of our Port Orange Training Center or your assigned Care Center.
  • Nurse residents will be employed full time at Halifax Health – Hospice during the residency and work in a full-time position in Case Management following graduation. A commitment to work full‑time (40 hours) for two years in this role is expected for all nurse residents.
  • All nurse residents will be eligible to sit for national certification in hospice and palliative care (CHPN) prior to the end of their two-year commitment.
  • Applications will be accepted from July 1st – August 1st

For more information or to apply for the program email Jan Miller at janet.miller@halifax.org.

Halifax Health – Hospice is committed to honoring our military men and women for their selfless acts of courage. Through our Veterans Recognition Program, we conduct pinning ceremonies for any veteran within the community – not just patients who receive our services. We have honored those who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars and those who continue to serve today. Halifax Health – Hospice also expresses gratitude to the families of our veterans for their sacrifice.

Halifax Health – Hospice respectfully offers specially designed benefits for Veterans and their families:

  • Feel confident that your needs, and those of your caregivers, will be met through individualized care planning.
  • Ensure your access to end-of-life benefits through partnerships that Halifax Health – Hospice has established with local, state and federal agencies.
  • Receive specialized services based on the unique needs of Veterans at end-of-life.
  • Create a lasting memory of your contribution to our country by recording your story as part of the Veterans History Project with the Library of Congress.
  • Be honored for your service with a pinning ceremony and receive a commemorative pin and ceremonial certificate.
  • Be there for one of your own by taking part in the Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer program.

For more information, please contact our Veterans Recognition Program Coordinator at 386.425.4715.

Care Centers

Ormond Beach Care Center

235 Booth Road
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
Phone: 386.425.3150

Port Orange Care Center

3800 Woodbriar Trail
Port Orange, Florida 32129
Phone: 386.425.4752
Fax: 386.425.4753

West Volusia Care Center

1625 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Orange City, Florida 32763
Phone: 386.425.7600
Fax: 386.425.7625

Southeast Volusia Care Center

4140 South Ridgewood Avenue
Edgewater, Florida 32141
Phone: 386.425.8950
Fax: 386.425.8969

 

Offices

Port Orange/Main Office

3800 Woodbriar Trail
Port Orange, Florida 32129
Phone: 386.425.4701
Fax: 386.425.4702

Orange/Osceola Office

2699 Lee Road Suite 315
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: 407.825.9848

DeLand Office

1250 S. S.R. 15A, Ste. 3
DeLand, Florida 32720
Phone: 386.425.9889
Fax: 386.734.0941

 

Retail

Resale Shop - Palm Coast

122-126 Flagler Plaza Drive
Palm Coast, Florida 32137
Phone: 386.439.0333

Hours:

Tuesday – Friday: 11:00am – 5:00pm

Donations accepted from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Saturday: 9:00am - 3:00 pm

Donations accepted from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

The Halifax Health – Hospice leadership team is dedicated to giving patients and their families the best possible end-of-life care. Below is a list of the Advisory Board members and Senior Management at Halifax Health- Hospice.

Advisory Board

  • Bill Griffin, Chair
  • Don Needham
  • Charlene Irland
  • Ed Connor
  • Missy Chaves
  • Sheryl Selby
  • Matt Gable
  • Cindy Kiel Evans
  • Victor Ramos

Senior Management

  • Jan Miller – Executive Director
  • Bridget Highet, MD – Medical Director
  • Kathy Garcia-Masse – Director of Clinical Operations

Make a difference by becoming a Halifax Health – Hospice volunteer.

Founded in 1979 by volunteers, Halifax Health – Hospice relies on over 600 adult and teen volunteers to care for patients and their families. Our volunteers receive specialized training and have undergone a background check. Ongoing support and continuing education is also provided.

Explore Our Volunteer Opportunities

Patient | Family Volunteers

Patients in homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and care centers often need a caring individual to offer companionship, read to them, write letters or do a life review.

Resale Shop Volunteers

Volunteers assist staff by sorting and pricing donated items, ringing in sales, and arranging merchandise.

Administrative | Clerical Volunteers

Volunteers help with a variety of office functions such as mailings, data entry, telephoning and filing, as well as greeting and assisting visitors in the care centers.

Culinary Volunteers

Volunteers prepare nutritious and appealing home-cooked meals for patients in the care centers.

Bereavement Volunteers

Volunteers provide support to people who have lost a family member or friend. Volunteers assist staff with memorial services, bereavement telephone calls or help in the Lawrence E. Whelan Begin-Again Children’s Grief Centers.

Community Outreach Volunteers

Volunteers staff information tables at health fairs and events in the community. Volunteers also help raise funds for Halifax Health – Hospice in the community.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities and volunteer orientation at Halifax Health – Hospice, please contact Volunteer Services at 386.425.4674.

Meet Your Hospice Care Team

Hospice Care Doctors

Dr. Mary Fisher
Medical Director
Dr. Mary Fisher
Medical Director
Book Appointment
Dr. Bridget Highet
Dr. Bridget Highet

With over 12 years of experience, Dr. Highet has experience working in emergency medicine and is now the Medical Director of Hospice and Palliative Care.

Book Appointment
Dr. Catalina Soto
Dr. Catalina Soto

Catalina Soto, DO, is a trained internal medicine physician. A native of Colombia, she graduated from Montclair State University in New Jersey and undertook post-baccalaureate studies in biomedical sciences at Ohio University prior to earning her medical degree at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015. Dr. Soto thereafter undertook her internship training at Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center in New Jersey, followed by her internal medicine residency at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, New York. Dr. Soto is passionate about delivering high quality hospice and palliative medicine to members of the community. She is an enthusiastic community volunteer, and has a passion for working with medically underserved populations. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Dr. Soto will be joining Halifax Health – Hospice as the primary team physician for Orange and Osceola Counties, in addition to serving as an attending physician on the inpatient palliative care service. Dr. Soto has a passion for hospice and palliative medicine, and a commitment to placing patients at the center of care.

Book Appointment
Dr. Susan Howard
Dr. Susan Howard

Dr. Susan W. Howard received her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. She previously worked in family medicine before transitioning to hospice and palliative care.

Book Appointment
Dr. Kara Williams
Dr. Kara Williams

Dr. Kara Williams completed her undergraduate training at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience. She developed a strong interest in healthcare disparities and preventative care during her pre-clinical years at Emory University School of Medicine, and continued on to complete a combined Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (MD/MPH) degree at Rollins School of Public Health while in Atlanta. While obtaining her MPH degree, she cultivated her interest in the social determinants of health through involvement in research around teen pregnancy/STI prevention, completing an internship with a non-profit organization, and participating in clinically-oriented community service activities benefiting diverse populations.

After her residency, Dr. Williams returned to Atlanta to complete a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Emory University, where she was educated on how to reduce disparities around end-of-life planning and chronic disease care, particularly within the minority community.

She served in a number of leadership roles while in residency, including serving on the residency’s Program Evaluation Committee, coordinating daily didactics during her PGY2 year, and leading QI initiatives. She is a Maryland-born Georgia peach and is married to Dr. Les Williams, a recent graduate of the residency program. In her spare time, she is learning to play the piano and enjoys spending time with family and those she considers her extended family – including friends, and members of her church.

Book Appointment
Dr. Raul Zimmerman
Dr. Raul Zimmerman

Dr. Zimmerman is a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine. He has been board certified in Family Medicine since 1979. More recently, he was among the very first group of physicians to become board certified in the newly recognized specialty of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Dr. Zimmerman came to central Florida in 1992 to serve on the faculty of the family medicine residency program at Halifax Health. He was Director of that program for 5 years. He continues to teach residents and medical students and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Geriatrics with the Florida State University College of Medicine at the school’s Daytona Beach campus.

In 2009, he started the region’s first inpatient palliative care service which is now seeing 70 to 90 new consultations per month. Dr. Zimmerman has had a longstanding interest in bioethics and has chaired the Bioethics Committee at Halifax Health for over a decade.

Book Appointment

Hospice Care Navigators

We are here for you.

Halifax Health – Continuing Care is proud to offer a local, convenient option for high-quality hospice care in Central Florida.
We have the highest-rated and most recommended program, demonstrating the clinical excellence performed by our compassionate team.