Business Briefs: Alliance Homecare To Roll Out Three New Services

Editor’s note: Home Health Care News will be observing the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25. We will return to our regular posting schedule on Nov. 28.

Alliance Homecare Celebrates 10 Years, Three New Services

Concierge home health care provider Alliance Homecare is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with three new initatives.

One initiative is the Rehab to Home Transition Program, which provides multi-level support that helps patients return home with the appropriate care after a sudden life-changing event.

Another rollout will be for a personalized CEO concierge visit for clients. The visit will be from a representative of the company to review the patient’s current care plan and to hear feedback on caregivers and the care management team.

The third service will be a speaker series program, which will begin in early 2017. The series will be geared toward baby boomers who are facing challenges with loved ones. It will be lead by an attorney specializing in elder care and trusts and estates, a daily money manager and an estate dissolution specialist.

The Ensign Group Acquires Hospice Operations In Idaho

The Ensign Group, which provides services such as skilled nursing, home health care, hospice care, rehabilitative care services, among others, has announced its home health and hospice portfolio subsidiary, Cornerstone Healthcare Inc., has acquired River City Hospice LLC, located in Post Falls, Idaho. The acquisition will expand the Ensign Group’s operations into northern Idaho.

“River City hospice is a strategic addition to our growing home health and hospice portfolio,” Christopher Christensen, president and CEO of Ensign, said in a press release. “We are committed to improving access to and quality of care in health care communities across the state of Idaho, and we are pleased to expand our services in the Coeur d’Alene region.”

Cornerstone subsidiaries now operate 18 hospice operations, 17 home health operations and three home care operations in nine western sates.

“We are excited to partner with River City’s clinical and professional staff and community partners in building a world-class hospice team in Northern Idaho,” Daniel Walker, president of Cornerstone, said. “Our unique operating model, which allows local, clinical and operational leaders to focus on meeting the unique needs of their patients, employees and communities, will help ensure all patients in a relatively underserved area have access to life changing hospice care.”

Home Care On-Demand Start Up Partners With Health Care System

New York City-based startup Pager has partnered with health care system Baylor Scott & White Health. Pager was launched by an Uber co-founder, and started as a doctor-on-demand tool. It has since morphed into a home care delivery service for more complex cases.

Baylor Scott & White will utilize Pager’s technology by allowing its users to text a licensed nurse through the app, who will then provide services based on need.

“They didn’t want to reinvent the wheel and build technology in house, but they have a continued commitment to innovation,” Dore Murphy, vice president of marketing at Pager, told Healthcare Daily, Dallas/Fort Worth. “They went out and found who they consider to be the experts in the field to bring this execution to the market.”

The contract has been signed, but neither company is releasing any other information about the deal.

“At Baylor Scott & White Health, we are always looking for innovative ways to better meet the needs of the communities we serve,” Nick Reddy, chief digital officer at Baylor Scott & White, said in a prepared statement. “We are excited to offer consumers our services on-demand through Pager’s world-class technology. Together, we are streamlining the health care experience.”

Hospice Company in North Carolina Signs With CarePartners

Hospice of McDowell, located in Marion, North Carolina, announced its affiliation with nonprofit health care organization CarePartners, effective Oct. 1.

Hospice of McDowell now operates as CarePartners Hospice & Palliative Care McDowell. Leadership in the company will remain the same.

“Together, Hospice of McDowell and Care Partners are the right team to meet our key goals of improving our patients’ experience of care, ensuring access to the right care and improving the cost effectiveness of our care,” Kit Cosgrove, executive director of CarePartners Hospice & Palliative Care McDowell, said in a press release.

Senior Living Community To Acquire Home Health Company

Green Hills Community, a senior living facility located in Liberty, Ohio, has entered into an agreement to acquire Universal Home Health & Hospice Care.

“Patients and referral sources can still expect the same high level of service and care from the Universal team, and now, also have access to a larger network of care with Green Hills for the season of life that follow,” Michael Ray, president and CEO of Green Hills, said in a prepared statement. “We are excited to be able to serve more people in our community with other quality providers.”

Under the terms of the acquisition, the Universal name will not change, and the offices will also remain the same. Green Hills’ home health division, Care at Home by Green Hills, will continue to provide services to its residents and patients.

“Green Hills recognizes the growing need for strong home health and hospice care to give people the option to stay in their home as long as they can,” Mary Argo, owner of Universal, said. “An we’re glad we found a local organization that not only believes in what we do, but knows how to carry these services well into the future.”

Health Care Company Acquires Home Care Company

Leading Health Care of Louisiana (LHCL) has acquired Absolute Care Providers, a home care company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The acquisition will expand LHCL’s services to three regions in Louisiana. Currently, LHCL serves clients in 37 parishes and employs more than 1,500 direct care staff.

“Almost everyone agrees that the home is the best setting for providing long-term care to an increasing number of recipients,” Matthew Rovira, CEO of Leading Health Care, said in a prepared statement. “Not only can care be provided less expensively in the home, evidence suggests that home care is a key step toward achieving optimal health outcomes for many patients. We’re excited to expand our presence and services to care for our clients.”

Written by Alana Stramowski