Hospice of the Chesapeake Remodels Facility After Recent Acquisition

Recently-integrated Hospice of Chesapeake and Hospice of Charles County have moved forward on plans to upgrade their Maryland-based hospice center, through which the combined organization will provide end-of-life, palliative and bereavement care. The provider financed the move with philanthropic dollars, along with a $200,000 Maryland bond secured with the aid of state legislators representing the county they serve.

Hospice of Chesapeake acquired Hospice of Charles County in October for an undisclosed sum in a transaction that made the combined organization one of the largest providers in the region. The hospice’s combined leadership has since been moving forward on plans to make significant investments in technology infrastructure, staffing, as well as physical and decorative updates to its facilities, including the Maryland center. Other post-acquisition improvements included in-house technology upgrades such as new servers, laptops and phones for staff, along with expanded telehealth services.

“Nothing is more important to us than knowing everyone who needs hospice and supportive care has access to those services and understands how we can support their family,” said Mike Brady, president and CEO of Hospice of the Chesapeake during a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. “And when I say ‘us,’ I mean everyone at Hospice of Charles County and Hospice of the Chesapeake.”

The combined hospice organization secured a bond with assistance from state legislators Delegate Edith Patterson (D-District 28) and Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-District 28), who each presented proclamations in support of the center’s upgrades in concert with other and Charles County lawmakers. The bond — along with donations from the community and another large philanthropic donor — made it possible to update every floor of the three-level building located in Waldorf, Md.

Prior to the acquisition, the two hospices collaborated for several years on inpatient care and pediatric services. Through the center, the two organizations plan to bring more hospice, bereavement and supportive (or palliative) care to the community in Charles County.

Initially opening in 2012, the Hussan Supportive Care Center will reopen this summer in one wing of the three-level building, and will begin accepting outpatient appointments when the first phase of remodeling is complete. Updates include new floors, decor and painting, along with remodeled patient rooms featuring new beds, smart TVs and family seating and sleeping areas.

Seniors 65 and older account for 12.9% of the population in Charles County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and represent 15.9% of the state’s overall population. Maryland’s population of individuals 60 and older is projected to outpace other age groups by 2030.

Hospice utilization among Medicare decedents in Maryland reached 47.6% in 2018, just under the national average of 50.3%, according to the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization.

As two hospices merged, the “synergy and economies of scale” allowed for additional investments in the outward appearance of the center and the infrastructure updates, according to Sandra Dillon, director of communications at Hospice of the Chesapeake. Technology was a large part of the investment to expand the center, along with staffing support considerations, Dillon stated.

“Just as all hospice organizations are, we too are facing a workforce shortage,” Dillon told Hospice News. “We believe that by investing in technology, this allows our current workforce to streamline their tasks and focus more time on direct patient care. Phase two of our project, to be completed in fall 2021, will include a new education and training center onsite including a mock patient room and additional grief support counseling areas.”

The organization’s future plans in a post-COVID-19 landscape include a “laser-focus” on outreach and education to the community around advance care planning and supportive care services such as hospice and palliative care, according to Dillon.

The killer virus has been raising awareness around community-based end-of-life and serious illness care in its continued global spread. Providers have long battled common misconceptions about the nature of services and care involved with hospice.

“Working to raise awareness of the services available to families is critical in advance of a crisis,” said Dillon. “COVID-19 raised the community’s focus on health care decision-making, and we hope to share more details with the communities we serve — virtually or in-person. Education is key. We are also evaluating how telehealth technologies can continue to be utilized post COVID-19. What we learned and what worked best is a tremendous conversation.”