Former Baptist Medical chairman gives more than his name to hospice center

March 01-- Mar. 1--Community Hospice & Palliative Care and Baptist Health announced a $500,000 donation and joint venture for a new hospice at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville downtown.

Alice and O'Neal Douglas made the contribution to the new inpatient unit under construction and expected to open in October 2019. The Douglas Center for Caring at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville will be the ninth such Community Hospice inpatient facility.

O'Neal Douglas was a former board chairman at Baptist Medical. He also was chairman and chief executive officer of American Heritage Life Insurance Co. and American Heritage Life Investment Corp.

Alice Douglas served for many years as an auxilian for Wolfson Children's Hospital and was a board member for The Guild of the Jacksonville Symphony Association.

"Alice and I are pleased to be a part of bringing this very important element of care into the wonderful institution of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville," O'Neal Douglas said.

In addition to hospice care, the new center will feature bereavement and grief services. Like other Community Hospice & Palliative Care's Centers for Caring, family and friends are welcome to visit at any time. Overnight stays and visits from family pets also are welcome, hospice officials said.

"This act of giving back by the Douglas family is from the heart of their longtime association with Baptist Health," said Michael Mayo, hospital president of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. "Many patients' and families' lives will be touched by this unit being available on our campus, which will make significant end of life transitions much less stressful."

Scott Butler: (904) 359-4566

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