Hospices Double Down on CEO Succession Planning

CEO turnover has been rising during the past two years, among organizations that run the gamut as far as size, tax status and ownership structure. The reasons behind the trend are also plentiful. For starters, many hospice leaders are aging with the rest of the population and reaching retirement age. Others have migrated to other […]

Hospice Programs Slated for Closure Remain Open

Hospice programs in central New York remain open, despite local legislators previously indicating staffing-related closures. In 2022, legislators in Oswego County in New York state voted to shutter its hospice services within the year. However, The Caring Coalition of Central New York, d.b.a. Hospice of Central New York & Hospice of the Finger Lakes, will […]

Ohio’s Hospice Expands Partnership with Senior Living Provider United Church Homes

Ohio’s Hospice is deepening its relationship with United Church Homes (UCH) to expand hospice and palliative care options for the senior living and support services organization’s residents. This move expands a collaboration between the two nonprofits launched called Ohio’s Hospice at United Church Homes, which provides care in more than three communities across the UCH […]

Hospices Hustle to Staff Inpatient Units as Demand Grows

Hospices are working to strike a harmonious chord between increased demand for inpatient care and the workforce resources to support it. Some hospice providers have seen a rise in demand for inpatient care. While a number have been able to expand to address this need, others have had to shutter their inpatient programs due to […]

Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough Unveils New Inpatient Unit

Florida-based Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough, an Empath Health affiliate, has opened a new inpatient unit within Tampa’s St. Joseph’s Hospital. St. Joseph’s is part of the BayCare Health System and has been one of the hospice’s largest referral partners when it comes to general inpatient care, according to Kerry Hoerner, Empath Health’s Chief Hospice Officer. […]

Hospice Providers Weigh Labor Gains Against Rising Costs

When it comes to labor, hospice providers are walking a balance beam between the need to increase capacity and the long-term sustainability of offering bonuses, tech investments and larger benefits packages. Publicly traded hospice providers have reported improvements on turnover and  workforce shortages. But the strides have come at a cost. While the public companies […]

Hospice, Tech Company Partnerships Seek to Improve Length of Stay, Streamline Workflows

Hospices and tech companies are increasingly collaborating to help ensure patients receive the right care at the right time and to build efficiencies into care delivery. Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics in particular are gaining in prevalence. A rising number of providers are applying these systems to identify hospice-eligible patients more quickly, as well as […]

VITAS Opens New, Permanent Inpatient Unit at Florida Hospital

VITAS Healthcare, a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHEM), has expanded one of its inpatient hospice units in Florida. VITAS’ new hospice facility at Broward Health Coral Springs features 12 patient beds, a kitchen and a family room. The facility replaces a temporary unit with eight inpatient beds that VITAS began operating at the hospital […]

Advance Care Planning Billing Rules Impede Equitable Access

Current advance care planning reimbursement structures are limiting utilization and access of these services, particularly among communities of color. The payment barriers blocking more equitable advance care planning are two-fold, existing on both the health care provider and patient sides. On the patient side, Medicare beneficiaries face out-of-pocket costs when advance care planning is performed […]

Nursing Educator Shortage Contributing to Hospice Labor Pressures

When retiring hospice nurses are ready to pass the torch, often no one is there to take it. The same applies to instructors in nursing schools who could help replenish their ranks. A dearth of nursing educators is contributing to hospice workforce shortages, leading providers to compensate by expanding in-house training programs. Currently, nursing schools […]