SPRUCE PINE, N.C. and HOLLYWOOD, Fla., April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge has joined the movement to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of community-based not-for-profit hospices by joining with Caring Foundations.

Formerly Hospice and Palliative Care Center of Mitchell County, Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge has been serving the end-of-life care needs of local residents since 1986.

"Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge represents the typical hospice partner that Caring Foundations is committed to helping during these times of significant change and regulatory and reimbursement challenges for community-based hospices," said the Rev. Hugh Westbrook, CEO of Caring Foundations.

A major goal of the affiliation is to sustain high-quality community-based hospice care by delivering substantial benefits through a program of shared resources. By collaborating on clinical and administrative best practices, member hospices will be able to improve quality of care, expand access to hospice care, develop new products and services and improve efficiency and cost management. As a family of community-based not-for-profit hospices, members of the Caring Foundations family of hospices will be better prepared for the changes working their way through the entire health care system while continuing to innovate to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

"Aligning with Caring Foundations gives Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge a wealth of resources, expertise and assistance that we simply could not otherwise access on our own," stated CEO Christina Jenkins who began her career with the organization nearly 20 years ago as a social worker providing hands-on care to patients at the bedside. "The added benefits of joining Caring Foundations means that our hospice will remain locally governed, will retain our much-loved local identity and brand, and that our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, local healthcare providers and other supporters will continue to define the needs of our community for quality, compassionate end-of-life care."

"This is not a takeover. And this is not a merger," Westbrook explained. "Caring Foundations is a growing family of not-for-profit hospices that, while maintaining their local governance, begin to benefit from the same significant economies of size and scale that only the largest, mostly for-profit, hospice chains enjoy today."

"As a member of the Caring Foundations family of community-based hospices, Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge looks forward to a healthy, successful future," added Marie Beach, President of the Board of Directors.

About Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge
Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge is one of the few not-for-profit hospices serving the region. With more than 30 staff and 47 volunteers, Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge cares for approximately 150 patients each year. In addition to a full range of hospice services for patients and their families, the hospice offers a palliative care program called Pathways and is part of the national veterans program known as We Honor Veterans. Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge also provides a variety of volunteer opportunities, presents a wide array of educational programs and actively supports community events, fundraisers and programs.

The mission of Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge is to provide exceptional care and services to individuals facing a life limiting illness. They believe in giving patients and their family members the support and education needed to understand their illness. Their goal is to provide care that is unique to each individual and allow patients and their family to make the most of each day. www.hospicemc.com

About Caring Foundations
Caring Foundations is committed to combining the scale and operating efficiency of a large, national organization with the mission-driven focus, community engagement and legacy of care of community-based hospices. Caring Foundations has the experience to navigate a changing delivery and reimbursement system, the expertise to provide best-in-class services in key growth, operational, quality, and compliance areas, and the roots in and commitment to the mission of community-based hospices. www.caringfoundations.org

Contact:
Mark Cohen for Caring Foundations
571.399.7197
markc@caringfoundations.org

Christina Jenkins for Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge
828.765.5677

SOURCE Caring Foundations