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Not everyone gets to be a part of a business that significantly impacts people’s lives. At Maple Creek Home Health and Hospice, making a difference in people’s lives is the very essence of the job description for all who work or volunteer there.
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Maple Creek has become the very first Diamond Member of the Spanish Fork Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Maple Creek is locally owned and operated as well as centered in the heart of the community it serves. Owner Carma Karsten knows all of the wonderful services Maple Creek has to offer in regards to end-of-life care as well as the misconceptions and misunderstandings that come with the services Maple Cree offers. Being a Diamond Member of the Spanish Fork Salem Area Chamber of Commerce is one way Karsten is providing the education needed for people to prepare for end-of-life care. “At some point in time, the end-of-life care discussion and decisions will affect everyone in the community. Having the knowledge of the different resources and choices will be a great benefit to those who are unexpectedly faced with end-of-life care decisions. It is important for everyone to be aware that more often than not, this conversation does come up unexpectedly.”
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Karsten is passionate about making sure those she cares for, as well as the loved ones of those she cares for, receive the best care and support possible to ensure their last days are the best days they can be. This passion flows over to all others who work with Karsten, and it is apparent when you meet them and see them interact with others.
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Karsten makes sure that upon meeting anyone, whether a patient or family member, she gives them a clear understanding of what can be expected. Karsten and her staff will all tell you the care they give is heads above the rest. This is a very powerful statement considering the fact that the majority of the employees have worked for other agencies and have had the ability to compare the way things are done. There is a higher expectation for the staff at Maple Creek, and to meet that higher expectation, Karsten understands the importance of ensuring all employees are provided with the time and resources they need.
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Hospice has been in Utah since the early 1980s, and Karsten took part in starting up the first agency in the state. In the beginning, it was an amazing service that was provided, but as the years have passed, unfortunately the goal of putting the patient first became second to corporate policy and numbers. For this very reason, Karsten started her own company so she could ensure the patient always came first. She does not have to ask for anyone’s permission in regard to medications, equipment or helping those in need who may not have the funding or insurance to cover it. The patients’ needs will always come first. Each person has different needs, and these needs cannot be met if there are restrictions or limitations on what can be provided.
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Although Maple Creek is located in Spanish Fork, it cares for patients throughout Utah County.
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Maple Creek Home Health and Hospice is located at 290 W. Center in Spanish Fork.
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Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have. – Harry Emerson Fosdick
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In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. – Franklin D. Roosevelt
