Hospice Facilities Launch Amid Shuttering Programs

Sarah Bush Lincoln Opens New Hospice Illinois-based Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospice recently opened a new inpatient facility. Located in Mattoon, Illinois, the Willow Breeze Hospice House features eight patient rooms with private bathrooms. Both adult and pediatric hospice patients are eligible to receive general inpatient care (GIP) at the center. Sarah Bush Lincoln announced the […]

New Executives Take the Helm at AccentCare, Blue Ridge, Androscoggin, Good Samaritan

AccentCare Appoints New EVP, CMO Dr. Balu Natarajan has become AccentCare’s new executive vice president and chief medical officer. Natarajan’s role expanded after previously serving as the post-acute company’s chief medical officer for hospice since 2005. In addition to oversee AccentCare’s hospice and palliative care programs, he will also support its clinical care operations and […]

How Hospices Are Diversifying Their Services in 2024

Palliative care, pediatric end-of-life care and end-of-life doula (EOLD) services are top of mind for hospices that are diversifying their services in 2024. Fewer than half of 143 respondents to Hospice News’ 2024 Outlook Survey, conducted with Homecare Homebase, reported that their hospice organizations would pursue new care types this year. But the aim of […]

StateServe’s Delta Care Rx Acquisition Fueled by Hospice Cost Saving Potential

Durable medical equipment (DME) provider StateServ has acquired Delta Care Rx, a national hospice pharmaceutical benefits manager (PBM). Financial terms of the transaction were undisclosed. The acquisition is a move aimed at leveraging technology to improve quality, care delivery and operational efficiencies among hospice, palliative and post-acute care providers, according to Drew Mihalyo, founder, president […]

From Access Barriers to Educational Gaps: The Research Trends Impacting Future Palliative Care Delivery

Already, 2024 has brought a growing body of research in palliative care covering more ground on challenges linked to utilization and access, health disparities, lagging clinical awareness and other aspects impacting quality and care delivery. This year has kicked off with a host of palliative care studies at global and national levels. Data trends reflect […]

[UPDATED] New Hospices Cropping Up in Fraud Hotbeds Amid Ongoing Program Integrity Push

A new report is casting doubt on the heightened regulatory efforts seeking to curb fraud, waste and abuse from hospice agencies in select states. The questionable success of those oversight efforts is best reflected in the fraud hotbed of California, which continues to see a swarm of new hospices emerging and receiving federal funding, despite […]

PeaceHealth Hospice Nurses Move Forward with Strike

Hospice and home health nurses at PeaceHealth’s Sacred Heart Home Care Services have announced an impending strike following failed attempts to reach wage agreements in negotiations with the organization. Home care and hospice nurses at PeaceHealth have given notice that the strike will launch on Feb. 1 and end on Feb. 14. Roughly 90 of […]

Keys to Effective Palliative Care Training Models

Palliative care clinical education avenues have expanded in recent years, but providers say the well may not be filling up quickly enough to meet demand. Communication and peer support elements are among the key training elements for palliative workforce sustainability and growth. Recruiting and retaining palliative care professionals can be a difficult feat for organizations, […]

Researchers Link Social Determinants to Pain Management in End-of-Life Care

Recent research shows that social determinants of health programs can help improve pain and symptom management for end-of-life patients in underserved communities. A recent study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology found disparities in pain management among Black, Asian and Hispanic cancer patient populations, based on variation in the availability of social determinants of […]