Literature Review

Hospice provider BrightSpring begins trading on NASDAQHospice News, by Jim Parker; 1/29/24BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. has begun trading on the NASDAQ under the stock symbol BTSG. BrightSpring is a home- and community-based health care services platform that serves more than 400,000 patients daily.Notable mentions: Jon Rousseau, CEO BrightSpring.

Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care hit with data breach of patient informationThe Daily Record (MD); 1/23/24Salisbury-based Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care on Tuesday reported a data security incident that involved some of its patient data including certain personal and protected health information. Coastal Hospice has sent notification of this incident to potentially affected individuals and provided resources to assist them.

'Snow was up to my knees': Iowa hospice nurse walks through blizzard to reach patientKETV (NE), by Maddie Augustine; 1/20/24Iowa — Communities across Nebraska and Iowa have felt the impact of recent snowfall and below-zero temperatures, but that weather didn't stop one Iowa hospice nurse. Tiffany McArdle, hospice nurse for St. Croix Hospice, told KETV that in her seven years of working as a hospice nurse, she never imagined she would be walking through a blizzard to reach a patient, but she said she never doubted she would find a way to make it to the family in need on Sunday.

New Day Healthcare acquires Compassion HospiceHospice News, by Jim Parker; 1/8/24The home health and hospice provider New Day Healthcare has acquired Texas-based Compassion Hospice for an undisclosed amount. The transaction expands New Day’s footprint to 29 locations, concentrated in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. The company’s nearly 6,500 employees serve close to 100,000 patients annually across all of its business lines, including home health, hospice, pediatrics, clinical decision support and personal care. Compassion Hospice will not rebrand and will retain its current leadership.

Pennant and John Muir Health enter into a home health joint venture in the Bay Area, CaliforniaGlobe Newswire; 1/2/24The Pennant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PNTG), the parent company of the Pennant group of affiliated home health, hospice, home care and senior living companies, today announced that it has closed on a home health joint venture with John Muir Health, a leading nonprofit integrated health system that serves communities throughout San Francisco’s East Bay Region. ... "Muir Home Health will bring together the deep experience of one of the Bay Area’s premier health systems with Pennant’s deep experience in managing and supporting the delivery of life-changing home health services, ..." said Brent Guerisoli, Pennant's Chief Executive Officer.

Hospice brings holiday joy to senior center residentsNewburyport (MA) NewsDecember 25, 2023Lorraine Kawiecki’s nursing home room was decorated with tinsel, a shiny elf and a wreath. The 93-year-old received gifts of a stuffed dinosaur comfort toy, a yellow-and-white handmade blanket and—of course, her favorite snack—animal crackers. Santa’s helpers this year, though, looked a little different. Compassus, a North Andover-based hospice organization, paid Kawiecki and others a visit for the holidays, making sure that even the people with family far away or maybe without any at all still have a merry Christmas. ... "Companionship through hospice programs like Compassus are integral to a senior’s Christmas season," [Joe] Peterson [the area executive of clinical operations at Compassus] said. “Volunteers really bring life to our program and to our patients,” he said.

LCHD head defends hospice program budgetPen City Current (Fort Madison, IA)December 19, 2023Fort Madison, IA—It would appear that a push by some on the Lee County Board of Supervisors to get out of the hospice business is at a stand still. At Monday’s regular meeting of the board, Keokuk resident Mary Jo Reisberg and an employee of the health department advocated for the county staying in the hospice business to make sure that every county resident has a choice for care. ... Several members of the board, including Chairman Garry Seyb, said they don’t think the county should be engaged in business that competes with private for-profit companies. 

Chemed Corporation Announces the Appointment of Michael D. Witzeman as CFOBusiness WireDecember 18, 2023Cincinnati, OH—Today Chemed Corporation’s Board of Directors has appointed Michael D. Witzeman as Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2024, following the retirement of David P. Williams from that role. Mr. Witzeman is currently Chemed’s Vice President and Controller and serves as Chemed’s principal accounting officer. 

Baptist Health Baptist Hospital Launches Inspirational Space for Patients and VisitorsSouth Florida Hospital NewsDecember 14, 2023Baptist Health Baptist Hospital launched the Inspiration Hall, powered by national leader in hospice and palliative care services, VITAS Healthcare. Located on the first floor near the hospital’s imaging center waiting room, the Inspiration Hall is an immersive experience where patients, visitors and hospital team members can submit, read or watch messages of comfort and support that will inspire others in their health journey. 

Gentiva Opens De Novo in TennesseeHospice NewsDecember 13, 2023Gentiva has opened a new hospice in Greeneville, Tennessee, the latest move in the company’s growth trajectory. The de novo opened earlier this month, and will serve patients, families and facilities across both Greene and Cooke counties in eastern Tennessee. ... Gentiva is a portfolio company of the private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. 

VyncaCare CEO Schulte—Redesign Serious Illness Care for Patients’ Changing NeedsHospice NewsDecember 12, 2023The needs of today’s seriously ill patients necessitates the development of new, longitudinal care models that integrate the patient-centered principles of hospice and palliative care, Dr. Darren Schulte, CEO of VyncaCare, told Hospice News. Vynca launched as an advance care planning technology platform and expanded into the palliative care provider space through its 2021 acquisition of California-based Resolution Care. 

Aveanna Healthcare Appoints Matt Buckhalter as New CFOHospice NewsDecember 11, 2023Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. has appointed Matt Buckhalter as its new CFO effective Jan 1. Buckhalter has served as CFO in an interim capacity since July 2023, when his predecessor, David Afshar, left the company. Afshar moved on to pursue “other opportunities,” and his departure was not a result of any disagreements with Aveanna management, policies or practices, the company indicated in a press release. ... Buckhalter joined Aveanna in 2016 ...