VITAS Healthcare Recognized as Hospice Honors Elite in Fairview Heights

May 24, 2022

A graphic of the Hospice Honors and VITAS logos that says Congrats to our Fairview Heights team

Fairview Heights, IL—As a 2022 “Hospice Honors Elite” recipient, the Fairview Heights service area of VITAS Healthcare is among the best hospice programs in the nation. This honor indicates that VITAS’ compassionate care teams offer an exceptional experience for hospice patients and their families throughout southwestern Illinois.

Every day, we put patients and families first as we work together to enhance the quality of life for those who are most vulnerable.-Deborah Wolf, VITAS Healthcare senior general manager

Hospice Honors is a prestigious program by HEALTHCAREfirst that recognizes hospices providing the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. Because caregivers choose hospice providers for their loved ones, they rely on the quality-of-care measures captured by surveys and reported by survey partners such as HEALTHCAREfirst.

“We are thrilled to receive this outstanding recognition,” said Deborah Wolf, senior general manager in Fairview Heights and a VITAS employee for 15 years. “Our team of dedicated healthcare professionals truly embodies our mission of providing compassionate care. Every day, we put patients and families first as we work together to enhance the quality of life for those who are most vulnerable. It is a privilege to lead such a committed, cohesive team who serve those nearing the end of life with empathy and dignity.”

“Hospice Honors recipients are industry leaders in providing quality care and constantly seeking ways to improve,” said Ronda Howard, Vice President, Revenue Cycle and CAHPS at HEALTHCAREfirst. “We are honored to be aligned with such high-performing programs as Fairview Heights and VITAS Healthcare. We congratulate them on their success.”

The organization bases award criteria on Hospice CAHPS survey results for an evaluation period of October 2020 through September 2021. Selectees for awards receive high scores on a set of 24 quality indicator measures. The hospice survey assesses vital components of care such as communication with family, treating patients with respect, providing help for pain and symptoms, emotional and spiritual support, willingness to recommend this hospice and more.

Since 2010, VITAS has been serving patients and families throughout southwestern Illinois, primarily in their homes and assisted living centers, providing compassionate hospice care, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial support through the end of life.