LARKSPUR, SAN MATEO & DUBLIN, California—By the Bay Health, Mission Hospice & Home Care and Hope Hospice announced they will merge to become the largest independent nonprofit hospice network in northern California, uniquely positioned to provide compassionate care and impactful community services to more patients and families throughout the region.
The three organizations are among the longest-standing nonprofit hospices in California: By the Bay Health was the state's first hospice, while Mission was the first nonprofit hospice in San Mateo County and Hope one of the earliest nonprofit hospices serving the East Bay Tri-Valley.
The new network will increase equitable access to the San Francisco Bay Area's most vulnerable populations by providing high-quality and comprehensive serious illness and end-of-life care including hospice, home health, palliative care, transitional care, pediatric care for children with chronic and serious illness, bereavement counseling, dementia support and Mission House—the only residential hospice house on the Peninsula.
With the California Department of Finance reporting a 120% increase in the number of adults aged 65 years and older projected to be living in the Bay Area by 2060, the new organization will be uniquely positioned to serve the growing needs of patients and families throughout the region. Together, it is anticipated that the new organization will have resources to serve more than 1,100 patients per day, supported by more than 500 community volunteers and 600 multidisciplinary staff. Through the new organization's integrated, trans-disciplinary team-based approach to health care, patients and families will have comprehensive access to a clinically trained, compassionate team including physicians, nurses, social workers, spiritual support and bereavement counselors, home health aides and physical and occupational therapists.
The combined organization will continue to partner with health care systems and community services throughout the Bay Area to provide a continuum of care for seriously ill patients and their families. By the Bay Health is an affiliate of UCSF Health, recognized worldwide for its innovative patient care, reflecting the latest medical knowledge, advanced technologies and pioneering research. This affiliation remains in place expanding a comprehensive Bay Area network that addresses the multifaceted health needs of patients and families.
"Today is an incredibly proud day and a win for independent nonprofit hospice organizations who put quality care and compassion over profit, working collaboratively through partnerships to ensure that all patients and families receive access to high quality, equitable care," said By the Bay Health CEO Skelly Wingard, RN, MSN. "We are excited to partner with two respected and trusted mission-driven hospice organizations who deeply invest in, and care deeply about the local communities they serve. Together, we share a vision to transform care for our most vulnerable populations during one of life's most important and honored moments."
"Mission Hospice, By the Bay Health and Hope Hospice share a rich history and commitment to serving the Bay Area community with comprehensive end-of-life care, education, and grief support," said Mission Hospice CEO Dolores Miller, RN, MN. "Together, we can provide even more families the compassionate care and comfort they deserve at one of the most vulnerable times of life."
"The vision of Hope Hospice was thoughtfully crafted 44 years ago by a small group of community leaders who wanted individuals to have every needed resource to care for loved ones in their final stages of life in the comfort of home," said Jennifer Hansen, CEO of Hope Hospice. "Merging with these two excellent partners protects our legacy in the East Bay, and it secures access to additional quality resources and services. As a stronger combined organization, we can continue to provide compassionate end-of-life care that prioritizes the needs of patients and their families."
