Hartford Healthcare Acquires Connecticut Hospice

Hartford Healthcare, a Connecticut-based multi-hospital health system, has acquired the Center for Hospice Care (CHC) for its Hartford HealthCare at Home segment. Under the terms of the transaction, the health system will assume all CHC debts and financial obligations.

“With our common goals and missions, this partnership will be extremely beneficial for both organizations, staff, patients and their families,” Rita Parisi, senior vice president of the Hartford HealthCare Community Network, said.

CHC, formerly known as Hospice Care of Southeastern Connecticut, will integrate its 68 employees into the system’s home care workforce of more than 1,080 members, who provide hospice care, personal care, home health care, memory care, and other services.

“This decision comes after years of exploring possible strategic partnerships that would continue providing exceptional care to our patients and families,” said Carol Mahier, RN, MSN, president and CEO of CHC. “In this ever-changing health care landscape, health care organizations are more likely to thrive when they create formal partnerships to work together. We owe it to our patients and families to better position ourselves for continued success in the future.”

CHC in the coming month will transition to the health systems information technology platforms and clinical processes, including its EPIC telehealth and electronic health records platform. The nonprofit hospice will continue its current fundraising activities during the transition and thereafter.

The hospice in 2017 earned nearly $6 million in total operating revenues in addition to $690,000 in non-operating income, including more than $250,000 in donations, according to its most recent annual report. CHC had a 389,000 operating surplus that year.

Hartford Healthcare at Home, which operates the system’s home-based and inpatient hospice services, reported nearly $99 million in net patient service revenue for fiscal year 2018, and a $4.9 million operating loss. The segment expanded its footprint to 38 new communities last year, bringing its total admissions to more than 23,000 patients.

“Hartford HealthCare at Home has a strong tradition of providing care and advocating for hospice patients, a large footprint in Eastern Connecticut and a similar nonprofit mission and vision when it comes to hospice care,” Mahier said. “I’m confident this tradition of care will continue through our new partnership with Hartford HealthCare at Home.”

In addition to its health care portfolio, Hartford Healthcare in 2018 co-founded CarePartners of Connecticut, a non-profit health insurance company that participates in Medicare Advantage. It also operates the Center for Education, Simulation, and Innovation which provides clinical simulation training, medical device testing, and other initiatives.