Business Briefs: Epic Health Acquires Option 1, Cardinal Launches Home Products

Trinity Health Appoints New CEO of Trinity Home Health Services

Trinity Health, one of the nation’s largest non-profit health systems serving nearly 2.8 million people annually through its home health and hospice programs, has named Erin Denholm its new CEO of Trinity Home Health Services, a division of Trinity Health that mostly operates in the Midwest, with additional locations in California and Maryland.

Denholm will replace retiring Grace McCauley, who has served as Trinity Home Health’s CEO since the division was created in 2001. Denholm will oversee home health and hospice operations. 

“We are confident that Erin’s energy, vision and proven track record of success will help ensure that we are delivering people-centered home health and hospice care throughout our 21-state system,” John Capasso, Trinity’s executive vice president of continuing care group, said in a prepared statement.

Denholm was previously CEO of Centura Health, a Denver-based provider of home care and senior living communities. She also served as Centura’s senior vice president of clinical transformation.

Epic Health Services Acquires Option 1 Healthcare Solutions

Epic Health Services Inc., a national provider of home health care services and pediatric skilled nursing, therapy and autism services based in Dallas, has acquired Option 1 Healthcare Solutions, a Western United States enteral nutrition provider located in Chandler, Arizona.

The acquisition brings in a new service line for Epic, which is a portfolio company of Webster Capital, but is a natural extension of services as many of the company’s patients require feeding tubes.

“Our goals was to unite with another leading pediatric provider that serves medically fragile children so we could better serve our patients and coordinate their care even more effectively,” Chris Rouses, president and CEO of Epic, said in a prepared statement. “As we seek to be the home health care provider of choice in this country, joining forces with Option 1 strengthens our ability to provide comprehensive, full-service and convenient care to patients and families.

As a result of the acquisition, Epic will add Washington, Oregon and Nevada to its current 12-state service territory. Option 1 serves more than 6,300 patients across six states and will bring Epic’s reach up to 26,000 patients. Option 1 will become a subsidiary of Epic and maintain in headquarters in Chandler. Option 1 will also maintain its management team.

“The acquisition will be an accelerant for both companies’ growth trajectories,” Rick Winterish, CEO of Option 1, said in a prepared statement. “It will introduce both Option 1 and Epic to new markets and allow us to deliver our services to an increased number of children who need care.”

Amedisys Seeks New Office Space in Baton Rouge

Home health and hospice care giant Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED), which recently opened a Nashville executive office in July, may be seeking new office spaces. The company is reportedly looking to shed its current corporate offices located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

“For the past couple of months, we’ve been exploring different options with our building on Sherwood, looking at the possibility of leasing some of our space or the possibility of even moving if we can find another space that better suits our needs,” Amedisys spokeswoman Kendra Kimmons told The Acadiana Advocate. “We haven’t found anything yet. We are looking at some properties. But no decisions have been made on anything.”

Amedisys purchased its current offices in 2005 for $4.2 million. The site was previously a Schwegmann’s grocery store before the 110,000 square foot building was converted into a modern office space over two years. Kimmons told the Advocate the building is a bigger space than the company needs.

When Amedisys opened its new Nashville office, there were about 410 employees working out of the corporate offices in Louisiana. The company announced it would move 33 top executives from Baton Rouge to Nashville the next year. 

Despite the moves, Amedisys CEO Paul Kusserow said Baton Rouge will remain company headquarters for the home health care company and the center of its general financial functions.

“Our executive team will be moving back and forth between offices, so there’s not going to be a huge difference in terms of our presence in Baton Rouge,” Kusserow told the Advocate.

Cardinal Health Launches Hospital Quality at Home Products 

Cardinal Health, a nearly 100-year-old company that provides medical products and services to U.S. medical institutions and hospitals, has launched a new brand called Hospital Quality at Home. The brand carries a line of over-the-counter products to help caregivers transition from the hospital to care at home.

In an effort to provide comfort and independence while promoting healing, the product line features a full assortment of hospital-quality products categorized as advanced wound care, first aid, personal care and home health care.

“Whether personally affected or acting as a loved one’s caregiver, the focus should remain on a fast and safe recovery,” Heather O’Sullivan, vice president of clinical operations for Cardinal Health, said in a statement. “We remain committed to keeping the quality of patient care at the forefront, which is why Hospital Quality at Home products are a natural next step for our business. We understand that providing access to the same quality products used in hospitals can positively impact many lives.”

Select Hospital Quality at Home products are available at Amazon.com and select Meijer Pharmacy and Bartell Drugs locations in the Midwest and Washington, the company stated. 

Baptist Health Acquires Two Home Care Agencies

Baptist Health, a Kentucky-based health care provider, has expanded its service area to 39 Kentucky counties and six counties in Southern Illinois with the acquisition of two home care agencies in Western Kentucky.

The provider acquired Breckinridge Memorial Hospital’s home health agency, which services Breckinridge, Hancock and Meade counties, and renamed the agency Baptist Health Home Care Breckinridge.

Baptist Health also closed on the purchase of the home health agency and adult day center from Murray Calloway County Hospital. That home health agency, now known as Baptist Health Home Care Murray Calloway, was once recognized as one of the nation’s top-performing home health agencies as part of the HomeCare Elite list in 2014 by the National Research Corporation and DecisionHealth.

“Baptist Health is pleased to serve these residents in Western Kentucky and the Purchase, providing our brand of ‘treat-you-like-family’ care,” Steve Hanson, CEO for Baptist Health, said in a prepared statement. “It’s part of our commitment to improving the health of people in communities across the commonwealth.”

Baptist Health noted that existing staff will remain at each facility. Services offered at these acquired facilities include skilled nursing, home health aides, counseling from registered dietician, physical therapy, speech therapy occupational therapy, medical social services and caregiver training classes.

Home Instead Senior Care Opts Out of Building $1 Million Spotsylvania Office 

Home Instead Senior Care, an international franchise network home care agency with corporate offices in Omaha, Nebraska, decided not to build a $1 million office space in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, just months after the county approved incentives for the development.

The company, which already leases office space near Fredericksburg, Virginia, decided the cost of building was too high.

“The risk-reward relationship wasn’t there,” Karl Karch, owner of Home Instead, told Fredericksburg.com. “I appreciate the fact that the Spotsylvania [Economic Development Authority] and the Board of Supervisors did what they could do to help out, but overall, the whole project just came in at a higher cost than we were willing to absorb.”

Spotsylvania County had agreed to reimburse the company up to $30,000 through the company’s business, professional and occupational license (BPOL) tax payments on an annual basis through 2020, Fredericksburg.com reported. The county had also greed to return up to $15,000 of fees the company would pay for permitting and plan review.

Home Instead had requested another $15,000 in return payments for the project, but that request was denied. Karch told the publication the company will consider other options such as purchasing existing office space.

“We have plans to continue growing,” he said. “We’re committed to the community.”

Written by Amy Baxter