An enterprise or organizational unit of the enterprise, in which a entity conducts stationary 24-hour medical services in kind of other than hospital services. These services may rely in particular on providing comprehensive health care, psychological and social over patients in terminal phase of disease as well as over a families of these patients.

According to WHO hospice service is comprehensive overall patient care for patients with incurable, not causally treatable progressive disease. It is usually carried out at the end of life of the patient. This care includes pain relief and other symptoms (symptomatic treatment), alleviating mental, spiritual and social suffering and support for families of patients during illness and after the patient death.