Hospice of Catawba Valley's first rental office "Willard House" leased through the generosity of First Presbyterian Church of Hickory.

Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley is now located in Newton, NC.  Pictured above is our Catawba Valley Hospice House 21 bed facility.

Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley’s History
1978
Organizational meeting held at Glenn R. Frye Hospital by concerned citizens. This meeting was organized and held by hospital administrator Jean Settlemyre.
1979
Organization chartered by the State of North Carolina on September 7, 1979 as Hospice of Catawba Valley, Inc. The first hospice in the Unifour and one of the first three hospices established in North Carolina, all in 1979.
1980
Hired first nurse coordinator and staff person, Josephine (Jo) Bell. HCV admitted the first patient, and served 18 patients during the year. Some of the first board members include Bob Gora-Pres., Tim Roach-VP, Tom Taffe-Sec., Dale Cline-Treas., Doug Freeman-Chair for Personnel and Finance, Pat Annas-Chair for Volunteers, Margery Adams-Education, Dr. Trado- Dir. Of Professional Policy. Additional members include Carolyn Moretz, Nell Thomas, Anne Crotty, Van Grimes, Rev. Randy Ferebee, Flossie Saddler, Pat Jones, Dr. Lee Young and Dr. Douglas Miller.
1988
Pete Prunkl joined Hospice of Catawba Valley as Executive Director in January.
1989
Certified by Medicare and Medicaid.
1990
Relocated from the First Presbyterian Church in Hickory to the Willard House at 263 Third Avenue NW in downtown Hickory. Served 118 patients with 11 staff members.
1995
The number of patients served increased from 18 in 1980 to 235 in 1995, and staff size increased to 25.
1997
David Clarke joined Hospice of Catawba Valley as Executive Director in March.
1998
Received an outstanding donation of land from Johnnie Buff on Robinson Road.
1999
Completed a successful capital campaign to support facility construction at the Robinson Road location.
2000
Relocated to the new campus on 3975 Robinson Road Newton in March, which included the Carpenter Hospice Center and Catawba Valley Hospice House. Served 419 patients; staff size grew to 51.
2001
Initiated two new programs to support community needs - "Transitions" and "Grief in the Schools".
 
2002
Researched the benefits of expanding the focus of Hospice to include palliative care.
2003
Initiated palliative care services and recruited and employed a full-time, certified palliative care and hospice physician.
2004
Hospice of Catawba Valley changed its name to Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley to recognize organizations involvement in both hospice and palliative care services .
2005
Opened new 9-bed Patient Care Facility. Established the Center for Leadership & Learning to provide end-of-life care education to medical professionals and the community. Served 1,095 patients; staff grew to 134 members.
2006
Became the first hospice in North Carolina to create specialized programs of care for heart failure and dialysis patients. The first hospice in the United States to employ a full-time Activities Director for the Hospice House. Served 1,424 patients; staff grew to 160 members.
2007
Began Courage to Care capital campaign to expand PCHCV's inpatient care facilities. Frequent requests for our services prompted an expanded organizational focus to serve Catawba and the five surrounding counties. Served 1,549 patients; staff grew to 179 members.
2008
Completed Phase I of “Courage to Care” campaign. Construction begins on expansion. Served 1,929 patients; staff size increases to 183.
2009
Celebrated our 30 Years of Caring and the opening of the expansion to 21-beds in the Catawba Valley Hospice House. Served our 10,000th patient. Changed the name of our palliative care program from “Transitions” to “Life Transitions.” Served 2,149 patients and staff size increased to more than 200.
2010
Broke ground for the Sherrill’s Ford Hospice House 6-bed unit. Grand opening of the Hospice Thrift Store located on Hwy 321 in Hickory. Established a specialized care program for COPD patients. New service initiatives are being planned for the communities we serve for 2011. 
 
2011
Opened the Sherrill’s Ford Hospice House in Sherrills Ford, NC in September of this year. This 6-bed unit will give us better access to serve the Lake Norman area.
 Today, our mission is to provide world class, compassionate care by engaging all individuals and their families to enhance living.
 
33 Years & Still Growing………..1979-2012
Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley