Michigan Health Ministries of Ascension Health Announce Statewide Home Health and Hospice Provider

Reverence Home Health & Hospice to provide services across the state starting January 1, 2013

DETROIT, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patricia Maryland, Dr. PH, president and CEO, St. John Providence Health System and the Michigan Market Leader for Ascension Health, announced today the formation of Reverence Home Health & Hospice, a statewide home care provider. Reverence Home Health & Hospice will open on January 1, 2013.

The Michigan Health Ministries of Ascension Health include Borgess Health, Genesys Health System, St. John Providence Health System, St. Joseph Health System and St. Mary's of Michigan.  Each of these ministries, except St. Mary's of Michigan, already has an existing home care agency, which will seamlessly transition operations to the new statewide entity, retaining its current professional staff, clinical excellence reputation and high customer service expectations.  Reverence also will begin to offer home health and hospice services in the St. Mary's service area of Saginaw.

"In preparation for health care reform and population health management, the primary focus of Reverence Home Health & Hospice will be to ensure seamless transitions of care and services between our Health Ministries' hospitals and home care settings," said Dr. Patricia Maryland.  "It will connect patients, families and physicians in the most profound ways, and ultimately result in the highest quality of care and experiences – all in the most cost effective manner that comes from leveraging the collaboration of our Michigan Health Ministries."

Reverence Home Health & Hospice's clinical services will be comprehensive and include home health, hospice, infusion services, tele-health monitoring and palliative care.  Reverence's statewide headquarters will be centrally-based at Genesys in Grand Blanc; however clinical services and staff will remain at each local Health Ministry to maintain continuity of care and services for patients, physicians, discharge planners and social workers.

One out of every eight patients cared for in Michigan is served by one of Ascension Health's Michigan Ministries and, collaboratively, the Michigan Health Ministries currently have 6 percent market share in home health and hospice services. 

Linda Young, RN, MSN, has been appointed President of Reverence Home Health & Hospice. With nearly 30 years of experience, Linda previously served as the Administrator and Chief Nursing Officer for Borgess VNA Home Health & Hospice in Kalamazoo since 2008, where she oversaw operations for the entire southwest regional home health and hospice program.

"The entire process of establishing and advancing Reverence Home Health & Hospice has been an incredible opportunity to share best practices among the Michigan Health Ministries," explained Linda Young.  "It's a prime example of the synergy we can achieve when we align and integrate with each other, and this collaboration between Reverence and our hospitals is what will set us apart from our competitors."

The Michigan Health Ministries of Ascension Health include Borgess Health in Kalamazoo, Genesys Health System in Grand Blanc, St. John Providence Health System in Metro Detroit, St. Joseph Health System in Tawas and St. Mary's of Michigan in Saginaw.  Together, the health systems employ more than 30,000 associates and are a major economic driver in the state, with $1.5 billion in payroll each year. In fiscal year 2011, the Michigan Health Ministries provided more than $314 million in community benefit and care of the poor.  For more information about the Michigan Health Ministries of Ascension Health, visit ascensionhealth.org/michigan.

SOURCE St. John Providence Health System