‘Extra Steps’: Building Strong Pediatric Palliative Referral Partnerships

Supporting seriously ill children and youths can come with higher costs and greater complexities compared to adult populations. Sustaining pediatric hospice and palliative care programs involves employing dynamic referral and financial strategies in today’s health care landscape. Pediatric programs often face challenges when establishing a firm financial foothold, with funding a main obstacle hindering growth […]

Stephen Hemsley Becomes UnitedHealth Group CEO as Andrew Witty Steps Down

UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) Chairman and President Stephen J. Hemsley will become the insurance and health care giant’s CEO, effective immediately. Previous CEO Andrew Witty stepped down on Tuesday for personal reasons, according to a statement from UnitedHealth Group. The company is the third largest hospice provider in the nation, primarily through its subsidiary Optum, […]

Family Hospice, Alzheimers Association Partner to Expand Dementia Education

Family Hospice is partnering with the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to enhance dementia care and patient and family education. The two organizations are planning an upcoming statewide initiative in Georgia designed to improve awareness and support. Both organizations will share educational materials at community events and through social media.  “Our goal is simple: […]

New Hospice Locations Unveiled in 2 States as Others Close

New hospice locations have opened up across the country amid program closures. VITAS Widens Footprint in Texas Florida-based VITAS Healthcare is opening two new administrative offices in central Texas in response to rising demand for hospice care. Set to open in late June, the Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHE) subsidiary’s new offices are located in Kyle […]

Hospices Traverse Health Equity Policy’s Uncertain Future

Recent government pullbacks on diversity, equity and inclusion stand to exacerbate health disparities among underserved patient populations during a time of rising demand for end-of-life care, according to hospice executives. The White House thus far this year issued several executive orders that have ramped up the nation’s immigration enforcement policies while also aiming to reduce […]

Under the Radar Challenges for Hospice Nurses

Hospice leaders may have a narrow view around the hidden daily challenges experienced by nurses — both at the bedside and operationally. More providers are peeling back the layers of the largest nursing workforce obstacles to strengthen their retention strategies. Rising demand and widespread staffing shortages have given way to a difficult state of the […]

[UPDATED] Empath Health’s New One Hospice Model a ‘Blueprint’ for Scalable Growth

Empath Health on Monday integrated its seven hospice brands under one umbrella. The rebranding is designed to strengthen the organization’s foothold in an increasingly competitive hospice landscape. A main goal of its new One Hospice Model is to sustain and grow the depth of Empath Health’s community-based hospice services, according to President and CEO Jonathan […]

Hospice Pet Therapy Programs Can Boost Patient, Staff Satisfaction

Improved quality is among the potential returns on investment for pet therapy programs. But hospices need to vet and train human and animal volunteers to sustain these services. Hospices offer a variety of volunteer-based programs such as art, aroma, massage and music therapy, with some providers increasingly integrating animals into their mix of services. Pet […]

Blue Ridge Hospice Brings Services Under New Unified Brand

Blue Ridge Hospice is rebranding under the name Blue Ridge Care to signify its expanded mission and scope of services. The new brand brings all of the company’s business lines together in a single, cohesive identity. This includes Blue Ridge’s hospice and palliative care programs, its Center for Hope & Healing bereavement center and its […]

Hospices Boost Retention by Understanding Employees’ Priorities

Hospices are unearthing new opportunities in the world of clinical workforce retention by taking a deeper examination of workers’ competing priorities. The pandemic took a tremendous toll on their nursing workforce, according to Cooper Linton, associate vice president of North Carolina-based Duke HomeCare and Hospice. The impact continues to affect hospice providers, Linton said. However, […]