Scripps to Begin Offering Hospice Care

Scripps Health announced today that it will begin offering hospice services to its patients and the community.

This week, Scripps acquired Horizon Hospice (stock purchase), a licensed hospice providing in-home services countywide, based in Poway, Calif. Horizon will continue to operate under its name with Scripps management. Working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Scripps intends to integrate Horizon fully into Scripps Health.

“As one of the region’s largest providers of health care services, Scripps has a responsibility to provide access to high-quality hospice care today and well into the future for our patients and the community,” said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and chief executive officer.

“Our decision to offer these vitally important services ensures access to high-quality hospice care, not only for Scripps patients, but for patients and families across the region,” Van Gorder said.

Scripps has an established infrastructure for in-home care, having provided quality home health care services to San Diego for more than 25 years. Last year, Scripps Home Health provided more than 65,000 home visits to patients throughout San Diego County. In addition, Scripps highly regarded palliative care program provides pain management, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual care to patients facing life-limiting illness.

“Hospice care is a natural extension of our high-quality and well established palliative care and home health programs and an important part of the full continuum of hospital-based and ambulatory services Scripps offers,” Van Gorder said.