VITAS Expands in the Florida Panhandle

VITAS Healthcare, a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHE), has expanded its footprint in the Florida panhandle with a de novo location in Panama City. The agency will serve patients in six Florida counties. As a part of the expansion, VITAS is hiring 42 new full-time employment positions across several disciplines. The location will also […]

PPE Shortages Remain a Top Concern for Hospice Providers

Health care organizations of all stripes have been struggling to obtain the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to maintain continuity of care safely during the pandemic, and hospices have been no exception. Hospice providers of all walks have had varied experiences in PPE supply lines, with some having deeper pockets and greater access than others. […]

Hospices Contend with COVID Relief Funding Questions

Under the CARES Act enacted in March, many hospice providers nationwide received federal relief funding to provide monetary support as they reeled from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. As the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) distributed millions of often unsolicited dollars from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, legal […]

Health Care System Disruption Led to Hospice Admissions Drop During COVID-19 

Some hospice providers saw a drop in admissions as a result of disruptions in the larger health care space during the coronavirus pandemic, but expect to see numbers trend upwards as the system stabilizes. Hospice admissions throughout the nation have been impacted by the pandemic’s upheaval effects, particularly among hospitals that were strained to their […]

Hospices Step Up Grief Care to Support Providers in Other Settings

By the nature of their work, hospice providers confront mortality more frequently than clinicians in other settings. As more clinicians in other health care settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, encounter more patient deaths than ever before due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hospices are bringing their expertise in bereavement to support health care workers […]

VITAS to Launch COVID-19 Grief Helpline

Hospice provider VITAS Healthcare will launch a national grief helpline that will offer support from the company’s bereavement care professionals and social workers to those who are grieving a loved one during the novel coronavirus outbreak. VITAS is a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHE). The service, set to launch on May 26, will likewise […]

Rise in Days of Care Buoys VITAS During Pandemic

Like most health care providers, VITAS Healthcare is feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the company appears to be riding out the storm based on its first quarter results.  VITAS saw 10.1% increase in hospice revenues from prior year during Q1, with increased days of care as a prime contributor. VITAS is a […]

Hospices Adopt New Strategies to Support End-of-Life Decisions

National Health Care Decisions Day takes on a new significance this year as COVID-19 sweeps critical illness and death across the country. With demand for hospice and palliative care services on the rise amid the pandemic, providers are adopting new strategies to highlight the benefits of advance care planning for patients and families. Recently updated […]

Hospices Struggle to Access Patients in Nursing Homes Amid Pandemic

With older adults suffering from chronic or life-limiting medical conditions among those most vulnerable during the COVID-19 outbreak, nursing homes across the country are restricting access to their facilities. As a result, hospice providers have experienced difficulty accessing their patients in nursing home settings. Nursing home populations are at the highest risk of being affected […]

Tailwinds May Shield Hospice Bottom Lines from Coronavirus Fallout

Despite recent hits on the overall markets, hospice company revenues may be protected by the growing demand for their services. The U.S. stock markets took a major blow due to turmoil stemming from volatile oil prices and the continuing economic impact of the global COVID 19 outbreak. Monday’s drop — the worse since 2008 — caused […]