[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 […]

The Emergence of Integrative Therapies in Palliative Care

A key component of palliative care is understanding that chronic conditions may not be cured, but rather need to be managed, sometimes for many years. Pharmacological drugs have their limitations — and they have side effects. They’re not effective in a lot of conditions, especially toward the end of life or in chronic illness care, […]

‘Suncoast’ Film Points a Lens at Hospice Families’ Experience

The recently released independent feature film, “Suncoast,” tells the story of a teenage girl and her mother wrestling with the approaching death of their sibling and son, respectively. The film is based on director Laura Chinn’s personal experience as her brother Max received inpatient care at the Suncoast Hospice Care Center, an actual facility operated […]

3 Nonprofit Hospice Providers to Watch in 2023

Though nonprofit hospices now represent a smaller slice of the industry than in years past, they continue to care for more than half of patients in the United States who elect the benefit. The number of hospices operating nationwide rose to 5,358 in 2021, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). This is a […]

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 […]

Florida Awards Chapters Health CON for Pinellas County Expansion

Florida-headquartered Chapters Health System recently received a green light to advance on expansion plans across the state’s west central coast. In August, post-acute care provider Chapters set its sights on expanding its hospice business into Florida’s Pinellas County. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) recently awarded the company a certificate of need (CON) […]

Empath Health Expands With De Novo, Veterans’ Adult Day Center

The Florida-based nonprofit Empath Health has expanded with a new multi-service location as well as an adult day center oriented around the needs of veterans. The de novo, located in Florida’s Hillsborough County, initially will house a branch of the Empath affiliate Suncoast Hospice. The organization also plans to add home health, medical services, grief […]

Former VITAS Manager Becomes VP of Operations; Hawaii E.D. Doc Turns Hospice Medical Director

Former VITAS Manager Returns to Fill Operational VP Role Chemed Corporation (NYSE: CHEM) subsidiary VITAS Healthcare recently named Laury Bliss as its new vice president of operations in southern California. She returns to the company after nearly three years at the helm of San Diego-based The Elizabeth Hospice as its chief strategy officer. Prior to […]

Florida’s Hospice of Marion County Affiliates with Empath Health

Florida-based Hospice of Marion County (HMC) will affiliate with the nonprofit senior services provider Empath Health. The two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to begin the process. Empath Health is the parent company of Tidewell Hospice, Suncoast Hospice, and Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough. This year, the State of Florida issued certificates of […]

Empath Health’s New Chief Medical Executives; HopeWest CEO Retires

Empath Health appoints chief medical executives Florida-based Empath Health recently appointed two new chief medical executives. Dr. Carol Li serves as its chief mission medical administrative officer, and Dr. Neville Sarkari as its chief mission medical affairs officer. In these roles, both will be crucial to the company’s clinical staff retention capabilities, according to Empath […]