De novos have propelled recent growth among some hospice providers. Meanwhile, labor strains cause others to temporarily shutter their inpatient programs.
Hospice of the Midwest expands with de novo
Hospice of the Midwest recently opened a de novo in Marshalltown, Iowa, adding a fifth location to its footprint in the state. The hospice provider also has two locations in Minnesota and one in Nebraska.
Hospice of the Midwest provides home- and facility-based services across nine counties through the new location, according to a local news report.
Staff at the new office provide 24/7 services to help facilitate hospice admissions for hospital and physician referrals and facility-based patients.
Hospice of the Midwest’s services within the Marshalltown community include assistance with medical equipment and medication order and delivery, developing patient care plans, providing home assessment consultations and a veteran honors program.
The hospice provider also offers pet and music therapy, as well as bereavement support services.
Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care opens inpatient facility
Illinois-based Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. has launched a new inpatient hospice facility.
Construction recently began on the 14,000-square-foot center. The single story, prairie-style building will house 14 patient beds.
The facility marks the company’s first steps into inpatient care. Oasis had previously offered in-home hospice across three counties in the state. Additional services include palliative and rehabilitative therapy.
Dubbed House of Gresham, staff at the facility will provide acute care for patients at the end of life. Developing an inpatient hospice center has been part of Oasis’ “vision” since the beginning, according to Oasis CEO Sade Bello and Hakeem Bello, director of business development.
The couple immigrated to the United States from Nigeria nearly 25 years ago. The faith-based hospice company received Medicare certification in 2015 and primarily serves an urban region around the Chicago area.
“This is another level of care that we can provide,” Sade Bello told local news. “This elevates care that we’re able to provide in the community to our patients.”
Baptist Senior Family launches inpatient hospice
Pennsylvania-based Baptist Senior Family has opened a new hospice facility at Providence Point, a large continuing care retirement community that initially opened in 2009.
The senior care provider recently opened The Light House at Provident Point after identifying a growing need for inpatient hospice care in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Few hospices provide this type of care in that region, according to Baptist Senior Family CEO and President Timothy Myers.
“We are committed to continuing the highest level of care for seniors by ensuring all unique needs can be met and that every resident receives the best care for themselves and their family,” Myers said in a statement. “We are providing patients in this region with both restorative and end-of-life care to better support their needs for the right care at the right time.”
Baptist Senior Family offers hospice, home care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and personal care services. Established in 1910 as Baptist Home Society, the faith based senior care organization eventually rebranded and currently has roughly 500 employees.
The organization is supported by the Baptist Homes Foundation. Last year, Baptist Senior Family provided more than $5.1 million in charitable care services.
Mercy One Health System temporarily closes inpatient facility
Inflation, workforce shortages and pandemic-related pressures are among the reasons that MercyOne North Iowa Hospice has temporarily closed an inpatient hospice facility.
The facility at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center was shuttered on April 17. MercyOne will continue inpatient services at other locations, as well as routine home care and respite care.
The decision to close is part of an overall plan to address economic and operational challenges in a post-pandemic landscape, MercyOne told local news.
The move to temporarily halt services was in response to rising inpatient volumes amid the inability to transfer patients to long-term care facilities during the pandemic, the hospice provider indicated in local news.
“Like all health care systems, MercyOne has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation costs and labor shortages,” the company stated in local news. “Unfortunately, this requires difficult decisions for our organization. As a result, by the end of April, inpatient hospice care will be delivered by MercyOne North Iowa within our medical center. There will be no interruption of inpatient or respite care for our hospice patients other than the transfer of that care to a different location. Hospice outpatient care will not be affected and will continue as usual. With care and safety as top priorities, we will work closely with our hospice patients and families to ensure a smooth transition. This decision is one part of an overall plan to address the economic realities of the fundamental shift in health care post-pandemic.”
The health system was acquired by Trinity Health last year for an undisclosed sum. Trinity Health signed a definitive agreement with CommonSpirit Health to acquire MercyOne. The MercyOne health system has an annual operating revenue of $2.5 billion and has more than 18,000 employees.
“With MercyOne now fully part of Trinity Health, we are a stronger and more unified system that will strengthen MercyOne’s ability to serve our patients, colleagues, and communities,” Trinity Health President and CEO Mike Slubowski previously said in an announcement. “Health care providers across the country continue to face unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-pandemic, but together, we are stronger.”
Companies featured in this article:
Baptist Homes Foundation, Baptist Senior Family, CommonSpirit Health, Hospice of the Midwest, MercyOne North Iowa Hospice, MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care, Providence Point, Trinity Health
