SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Hospice of Santa Cruz County, together with Mission Hospice & Home Care in San Mateo and The Elizabeth Hospice in San Diego, have announced the formation of the California Hospice Network – a strategic partnership committed to sustaining local, nonprofit, community-based hospice care throughout California.
These organizations aim to further enhance their delivery of exemplary patient care and end-of-life services. Hospice of Santa Cruz County said they will continue to operate as a distinct and independent nonprofit, mission-driven hospice and palliative care organization while working with the California Hospice Network member partners to share best practices, maximize operational economies and efficiencies and ensure long term viability within a changing healthcare environment.
“There are significant changes happening with Medicare and the hospice payment structure that threaten nonprofit hospices nationwide,” said Michael Milward, CEO of Hospice of Santa Cruz County. “By joining with other nonprofit hospice providers in our state, we believe we are better positioned to adapt to the changing healthcare landscape and continue to provide the quality care that our local community deserves.”
Local leadership and Board of Directors will remain unchanged.
“Each member’s local leadership will continue to make day-to-day organizational decisions and each member’s existing Board of Directors will continue to make local governance decisions,” said Robert Kaswen, Hospice of Santa Cruz County Board President.
The goal of the California Hospice Network is to provide strategic and operational support to local, community-based nonprofit hospice providers and to develop an affiliate geographic footprint that serves a significant percentage of the California population.
Jan Jones, RN, BSN, will be CEO of the California Hospice Network. Jones is a recognized leader in the hospice and palliative care movement with more than three decades of experience in the healthcare industry and a strong background in managing community-based hospice programs and services. Jones currently serves as CEO of The Elizabeth Hospice in San Diego. Along with the California Hospice Network Board of Directors, Jones will be recruiting additional nonprofit hospice partners to strengthen the network’s reach and scale.
Hospice of Santa Cruz County aims to provide exemplary end-of-life care and grief support to our community. The organization relies on philanthropy, which will remain local and support community programs such as music therapy, children’s grief camp, community education and outreach, palliative care and innovation initiatives designed to improve patient access and experience.
Hospice of Santa Cruz County is the county’s leading nonprofit provider of hospice care since 1978. Approximately 3,500 Santa Cruz County residents are served annually.
For more information visit www.hospicesantacruz.org.
