Talbot Hospice Foundation, Caroline Hospice Foundation and Shore Health System’s hospice services have plans to join forces in the creation a new and comprehensive hospice organization serving the Mid-shore region. The new entity, named Five Rivers Hospice in a proposal drafted by the three parties, will be an affiliate of Shore Health and will be headquartered at the Hospice House on Cynwood Drive in Easton, the current home of Talbot Hospice Foundation. It will serve the hospice needs of Talbot and Caroline counties.
According to Ken Kozel, CEO of Shore Health, the proposal for the new organization was completed in April and, pending final approval of the plans by all Boards of Directors, the new organization is expected to launch in the next several months. “It is a privilege for Shore Health to participate in the creation of a new, broad-based hospice organization,” states Kozel. “The Shore Health hospice clinicians – doctors, nurses and support staff – look forward to building on the already strong partnerships in place with staff at Talbot Hospice and Caroline Hospice.”
The name Five Rivers reflects the broad geographic area — connected by the Choptank, Miles, Tuckahoe, Wye and Chester rivers — that will be served by the new organization.
According to Michael Tooke, MD, chief medical officer of Shore Health and head of the Hospice Transition Team, the impetus to combine the three hospice organizations into a unified hospice was inspired by the desire to increase access to hospice services throughout the community, as well as to address patients’ need for more skilled nursing (medical) services in the hospice house setting. With the realization that providing this higher level of care warranted a closer affiliation of the three organizations, John Dillon, SHS Board Chair, Ken Kozel, SHS CEO, Al Smith, former Board Chair for Talbot Hospice Foundation, and Betty Ballas, Board Chair for Caroline Hospice Foundation, began discussing strategies to offer a wider range of services to a broader constituency two years ago.
“All three organizations share a common goal, which is to provide comprehensive and state-of-the-art hospice services in our region,” states Dillon. “We are confident that our new and fully licensed hospice organization will offer significant advantages, including the ability to serve a wider range of patients than we have in the past, and the enhanced coordination of care planning for patients and their families.”
Another advantage of the new organization will be a more seamless and accessible enrollment in hospice, from five days a week to seven, and with greater efficiency. “We will be able to enhance the coordination and coherence of planning for patient care and for supporting their family members,” explains JT Smith, current Board Chair for Talbot Hospice Foundation. “We also will be able to increase our service offerings to more people in our communities, and expand our outreach to medical professionals who care for patients at the end of life.”
Caroline hospice patients and their families will benefit from services that have not been consistently available in Caroline County, including Pathways (pre-hospice) and hospice house care. Hospice house services were discontinued in Caroline County when Caroline Hospice Foundation closed its three-bed hospice facility due to financial constraints. “Most of Caroline’s hospice patients have been served in their homes, but closing our hospice house was still a big loss,” Ballas recalled. “We are very excited that combining the resources of the three organizations will extend access to hospice house care at the Cynwood Drive facility to Caroline patients who cannot be at home for end-of-life care.”
According to the proposal, Talbot Hospice Foundation and Caroline Hospice Foundation will continue to own their facilities and will lease them to Five Rivers Hospice. The two foundations will also continue as independent fundraising entities, maintaining their own endowments and boards of directors in support of the mission and programs of Five Rivers Hospice. All management, nursing, direct care and support services staff will become employees of Shore Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
FIVE RIVERS HOSPICE
Proposal by Talbot Hospice Foundation (THF), Caroline Hospice Foundation (CHF) and Shore Health System (SHS)
1. I have not heard about this. Is this a sudden decision?
This proposal is the result of over two years of discussion and evaluation by the three organizations.
2. Are Talbot and Caroline Hospices being taken over by the hospital?
The three organizations are combining certain hospice functions to create a brand new comprehensive hospice, Five Rivers Hospice, which will be an affiliate of Shore Regional Health. It will have its own board and leadership with a single mission—to provide high quality hospice services to the community.
3. Why can’t Talbot Hospice and Caroline Hospice remain independent? Why do we need to change?
The combination will result in more complete and cohesive hospice services. Moreover, it will enable compliance with changing state and federal regulations.
4. Why is this going to be better for my community?
We will be able to care for a wider range of patients than we did in the past. The new hospice will provide:
- Easier access to all hospice services.
- One central location to get all hospice information, services and access to staff.
- Expedited admission process for all hospice services, including admission to the Guest Wing residence.
- Ability to care for all patients, including those who require skilled nursing care.
5. What is going to happen to THF and CHF under this scenario?
Talbot and Caroline Foundations will continue to own their respective facilities, which they will lease to the new Hospice, and will maintain their own endowments. They will have their own boards of directors to manage their communications, fundraising and facilities.
6. What is going to happen to Hospice House on Cynwood Drive?
Cynwood Drive will be the headquarters for Five Rivers Hospice, the new hospice organization and Talbot Hospice Foundation.
7. What will happen to Caroline Home for Hospice?
Caroline Hospice Foundation staff will continue to occupy their facility.
8. Will my donations go to the hospital now?
No. Donations to THF and CHF will continue to be dedicated to the support of hospice services.
9. Does my volunteer role change with this new organization?
THF has a very strong volunteer program, built up and sustained over many years. The lessons learned along the way will be useful in growing a stronger volunteer base in Caroline and the rest of the region. In addition, with the growth in census we are anticipating, our volunteers will have more patients and more opportunities to serve.
10. What’s going to happen to the hospice nurses?
They will be part of the new hospice organization.
11. Who will be in charge of the new organization?
We are conducting a national search to find an inspired, experienced hospice executive.
Five Rivers Hospice will have its own Board of Directors, which will be responsible for overall strategy, policies and fiscal management of the new organization.
12. Will there be any interruption in the services provided?
Patients and their families will be served every day without fail.
13. If citizens of Talbot County have donated money for expanding Talbot Hospice House, will Caroline residents enjoy equal access?
Shore Health System has agreed to give ongoing attention to the feasibility of reopening the beds at Caroline County’s Hospice House in Denton. In the meantime, in the spirit of our combined venture, Talbot’s Hospice House will serve Caroline patients on an equal basis. Of the patients in our region who elect hospice care, 75 percent receive it in their own home or in nursing homes. Currently, approximately 40 percent of Medicare reimbursements for hospice care in homes/nursing homes in Talbot and Caroline counties come from Caroline County patients, which will be an important sustaining aspect for the new organization.
14. Will volunteers who provide respite and companionship in the home be asked to travel to Caroline County?
At present, driving distance is an important factor in all volunteer assignments, and that will continue.
15. Will Talbot’s Pathways Program be extended to Caroline County residents?
Yes. We will be one organization serving every patient from Talbot and Caroline with the same quality and compassion, whether it be hospice or pre-hospice Pathways.
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