HPH Hospice has taken a big step forward to create an affiliation with Chapters Health System, a not-for-profit post-acute health care system headquartered in Temple Terrace.
Chapters already affiliates with LifePath Hospice in Hillsborough County and Good Shepherd Hospice in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties.
The affiliation between HPH and Chapters is expected to be finalized by the end of December, according to a release. When it’s completed, the two will work together to provide services to address the needs of patients coping with advancing age, complex medical conditions, and end-of-life issues throughout the six central Florida counties they currently serve.
“With continuously changing state and federal regulations and reimbursement practices in today’s environment, it takes a tremendous amount of education and financial strength to maintain quality (and) compassionate care,” said Tom Barb, HPH’s president and chief executive, in a release. “This partnership will enhance our common not-for-profit missions, and guarantee that more patients coping with serious illnesses have access to exceptional care at a challenging time in their lives.”
Even with the affiliation, HPH will continue to use its current branding, and will continue to raise funds through the HPH Foundation to support programs specific to patients and families in Hernando, Pasco and Citrus counties.
HPH was founded in 1984 as Hernando-Pasco Hospice, and shortened it to its current name in 2006 when the organization expanded into Citrus County. The company employed 526 people in 2013, providing care to nearly 4,600 patients.
Chapters Health is the parent of LifePath Hospice, first licensed in 1983 as Hospice of Hillsborough. In 2004, Chapters acquired Good Shepherd Hospice, which had been delivering hospice care in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties since 1979.
Last year, Chapters employed more than 1,300 people, and delivered services to nearly 13,000 patients.
