Literature Review

Chapters Health System launches new Chapters Health West DivisionCision PRWeb; by Chapters Health System; 10/30/24 Chapters Health System, in collaboration with four highly respected not-for-profit organizations — Hospice East Bay (Pleasant Hill, CA), Hospice of Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz, CA), Nathan Adelson Hospice (Las Vegas, NV) and Willamette Vital Health (Salem, OR) — is proud to announce the creation and official launch of Chapters Health West. This landmark partnership signifies the beginning of a new era in not-for-profit hospice care across the Western United States, blending innovation with a commitment to compassionate, community-based care. "We are building a future where we can do more, innovate more and serve more," said Andrew Molosky, MBA, CHPCA, president and chief executive officer for Chapters Health. "By aligning our strengths, we will continue to deliver exceptional care while expanding our capacity to meet the growing needs of those navigating serious illness and grief in our communities." 

New FTC regulations could create obstacles for hospice M&A Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/24/24 Changes to federal rules governing mergers and acquisitions could have sweeping effects on hospice and other health care transactions. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently finalized a rule that will implement changes to required pre-merger notification forms. Pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, parties to certain transactions must submit these documents to the FTC and other regulatory agencies to help identify and address potential antitrust concerns. The law requires that transactions exceeding $120 million must submit the form, which agencies will use to conduct a 30-day premerger assessment, according to Luke Smith, member at the law firm Bass, Berry and Sims. The final rule will likely complicate the closing of some hospice acquisitions.

Senator Lorraine R. Inouye announces release of $200,000 for Hospice of Hilo Improvements Hawai'i State Senate; 10/22/24Senator Lorraine R. Inouye (District 1 – Hilo, Paukaʻa, Papaikou, Pepeʻekeo) is pleased to announce that Governor Josh Green has released $200,000 in capital improvement project Grant-in-Aid funds for the Hospice of Hilo. ... “This funding will significantly improve the facilities and services at Hospice of Hilo, ensuring they can continue to provide critical care to our community,” said Senator Lorraine R. Inouye. “Supporting organizations like Hospice of Hilo helps build a stronger, more compassionate future for Hawaiʻi ..."

YoloCares: State awards nearly $3 million to YoloCares The Enterprise; by Craig Dresang; 10/19/24 In a move to expand and deepen the regional safety net for people facing a serious or life-limiting illness, Davis-based YoloCares recently applied for, and secured, a nearly $3 million commitment from the State of California to add an Enhanced Care Management component to its portfolio of offerings. By design, ECM intends to address the social determinants of health  which are the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. ... [As] Medi-Cal looks towards a major transformation in the structure of benefits, ECM is the Golden State’s initiative to address a lack of palliative and supportive care services.  ... According to Lisa Adams, YoloCares’ director of patient access and palliative care, “Our clinical team is adept at responding to the complex and unique needs of our patients and their families, often going above and beyond the scope of typical palliative care to help our patients find comfort and dignity during health challenges and transitions. This funding and recognition from the state simply acknowledges and supports the work we have been doing all along.”

Update on 3 nonprofit hospices impacted by Helene Hospice & Palliative Care Today; Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner and Joy Berger; 10/17/24Chris Comeaux shared updates on hospices impacted by the recent natural disaster. While no patients or staff were lost, some completely lost their homes or experienced significant property damage.  The final loss of life remains uncertain due to unaccounted people. Hospices nationally have shown unity in supporting local counterparts through financial aid, supplies, and volunteer efforts coordinated by many nonprofits. Certain areas may lack electricity until March. Hospices face challenges like displaced skilled nursing facilities, but resources are being mobilized. Chris announced a tabletop discussion in November to learn from this experience and highlighted the need for continued patient monitoring, especially in evacuation zones. To read more and contribute:

A new Hope(West CEO): HopeWest CEO resigns, assures smooth transition The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO; by Jace Dicola; 10/13/24 HopeWest is on the search for a new Chief Executive Officer.According to current HopeWest CEO Cassie Mitchell, her departure is bittersweet, but the 30-year-old or ganization couldn’t be in better shape for a smooth transition. Mitchell will remain CEO until the end of this year after her successor is selected. HopeWest is a nonprofit provider of the county’s Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and regional hospice, palliative and grief services. “It’s been a good two and a half years,” Mitchell said. “The organization is in a really strong place: quality is good, sustainability is good and we’re still 100% committed to our nonprofit, community-based mission.” The departure from HopeWest — to return to her home state of Kentucky — stems from a job opportunity in Mitchell’s old stomping grounds that will allow her to help with her faraway family’s “pressing” needs. She will serve as COO for another serious-illness health care provider currently amid a merger between two nonprofits. 

Hospice in a hurricane: How Empath Health responded to back-to-back disasters Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/11/24 Hospice providers in the southeastern United States are reeling from the impacts of two massive hurricanes that have occurred during the past two weeks. ... The Florida-based hospice and senior services provider Empath Health saw the majority of its service region affected by [Hurricane Milton], which caused substantial damage to infrastructure in many communities. Empath reported no major injuries among its employees, according to CEO Jonathan Fleece. However, some employees did lose entire homes or experienced significant damage, as well as cars and other essentials. ... “We do our best through pre-storm planning to come up with our communication plans with our patients and their families, ...” Fleece told Hospice News. “When we can’t reach people by phone, once we have any kind of access to roads, we will do our very best to do some sort of a check in.” These efforts are coordinated through an emergency management team, led by commander Matt Chaloux, that engages in disaster planning and response, Fleece said. Building on lessons learned from Hurricane Ian in 2022, Empath also established a mobile response unit — a vehicle designed to provide clinical, communications and logistical support during catastrophic events. The unit is modeled after similar vehicles used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Empath Health has set up a fund to aid employees who were affected by the hurricanes, helping to provide them with housing, transportation, child care and other needs, according to a statement posted by Fleece on LinkedIn. The organization's board of trustees has pledged to mathc donations dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000.Editor's note: Click here to donate to Empath Helath's fund to aid employees. 

Hospice of Central PA President Gil Brown to retire Abel Personnel; by Rochelle Shenk; 10/9/24 After more than a decade of service at Hospice of Central PA, president Gil Brown will retire Dec. 31. According to a news release, Brown has been a driving force behind the organization’s growth, steering it through significant achievements and fostering strong relationships with health care partners and the community. Since joining Hospice of Central PA in 2014, Brown has led the organization through numerous milestones, including earning Joint Commission accreditation and securing a 5-star status in the We Honor Veterans program offered by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. ... “Working with Gil has been a truly inspiring experience,” said Hank Straub, HCP Board Member. “His unwavering commitment to compassionate care and his visionary leadership have not only shaped Hospice of Central PA, but also set a high standard for excellence. Gil’s ability to lead with both heart and strategic focus has made a lasting impact, and it has been an honor to collaborate with him in serving our community.” 

Guest column: Hopewest – Breaking the silence: Supporting suicide prevention and survivors of loss Special to the Herald Times; 10/2/24 Those left in the wake of a suicide loss sometimes aren’t sure where to turn or what to do. Uprooted by shock and overcome by the grief of losing someone to suicide can feel painful and isolating. ... The stigma surrounding suicide deaths, particularly on the Western Slope of Colorado, often hinders individuals from seeking the support they need. To address this crisis in our communities, we must not only bring awareness to suicide prevention but also collectively understand and acknowledge the challenges that survivors of suicide loss face. “Grief after the loss of a loved one to suicide is a unique and painful experience. Survivors struggle with a range of challenges, from the heavy weight of stigma surrounding the death, to judgment from others,” said Judy Eskelson, HopeWest Meeker Bereavement Counselor. “And for many in our community, they may not fully understand the ins and outs of this type of grief. Life after this kind of death can be overwhelmingly difficult, leaving families to navigate a path they never expected to walk.” ... Following the devastating loss of a loved one to suicide, the HopeWest bereavement team is here to walk alongside individuals and families needing a source of comfort and guidance through their grief journey. Editor's note: Though many hospices provide bare, minimum grief support, many others--like HopeWest--live out their mission by providing a fuller scope of bereavement counseling and support. What does your hospice provide? Throughout your service area, do bereaved persons (whether hospice deaths or not) think of your agency as the "dying, death and bereavement" expert, or not? 

St. Francis Reflections and Treasure Health finalize partnership Cision PRWeb, Stuart, FL; Press Release by Treasure Coast Hospice; 10/7/24 Space Coast-based St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care and Treasure Coast-based Treasure Health announced today that the two organizations have finalized their partnership agreement. Together, the two non-profit hospice and palliative care providers serve more than 7,000 patients annually and employ more than 600 clinical and administrative staff in Brevard, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties. Since announcing their intent to partner last year, St. Francis Reflections and Treasure Health, and its flagship program Treasure Coast Hospice, have been working collaboratively to align their shared mission of providing compassionate end-of-life care to patients and families in their respective communities. [Click the title's link for statements from St. Francis Reflections President and CEO Joseph Killian, CHPCA and Treasure Health President and CEO Jackie Kendrick, CHPCA.]

Aroostook House of Comfort honors the late Dr. Jones The County, Presque Isle, ME; 10/4/24 On Sunday, September 15, friends, family, and colleagues gathered at the Aroostook House of Comfort to celebrate the  life and enduring legacy of Dr. David Jones, a great man who touched the hearts of many in his community and beyond. Dr. Jones, who  passed unexpectedly on October 22, 2023, was a devoted family man, an esteemed medical director for Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, a committed Aroostook Hospice Foundation board member and a cherished friend. With a medical career that spanned decades, Dr. Jones made a lasting impact across the region. ... In a heartfelt ceremony, Dr. Jones’ family dedicated a bench, a stepping stone, two trees and two blueberry bushes, all nestled within the  grounds of the Aroostook House of Comfort. A beautiful memorial plaque is also displayed within the Aroostook House of Comfort. 

[Interview] Andrew Molosky, President & CEO, Chapters Health System Capital Analytics Associates; 10/3/24 In an interview with Invest:, Andrew Molosky, president and CEO of Chapters Health System, discussed Chapters Health’s focus on personalized care and flexibility, how it uses data analytics and artificial intelligence to supplement medical expertise, and the reason for its rapid expansion. 

Hospice of Golden Isles returns to independent operations Savannah Tribune - Social and Community News; by Savannah Tribune; 10/2/24 Hospice of the Golden Isles (HGI) is pleased to announce it will resume independent operations in the coming months. This decision was made as HGI approaches the final year of its five-year agreement with Alivia Care, a Florida-based nonprofit hospice provider. Throughout the affiliation, HGI faced significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, increased for-profit competition, and Medicare reimbursement changes. Despite these challenges, HGI has continued to deliver high-quality care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. “We are incredibly grateful for the benefits this partnership has brought to Hospice of the Golden Isles,” said Paula DiLandro, Executive Director of HGI. “However, as the Board of Directors assessed the current landscape, they realized the factors that initially drove the affiliation are no longer as pressing. After careful consideration, the Board decided to return to independent operations, ensuring the future success of HGI.”