
We have significantly expanded our team of Hospice Admission Nurses, a strategic move that has transformed our ability to respond swiftly to patient referrals. This growth in staffing creates increased capacity, allowing the program to accept more patients and ensure that hospice services are initiated at the time they’re most needed.
“We’re now able to admit nearly all hospice referrals either the same day or the day after they’re received,” says Brenda Riordan, Senior Vice President of Home Care, Hospice, and Care Management Solutions at VNS Health. “This means patients and families can count on timely support during critical moments in their end-of-life journey.”
We have also strengthened our ability to support the holistic needs of these patients and their families by adding RN Coordinators of Care, social workers and spiritual care counselors to our hospice interdisciplinary care teams. In addition, the program’s intake liaisons are working more closely with hospital outpatient clinics and large physician practices across New York City to identify hospice-eligible patients earlier.
Why it matters: New York State continues to rank among the lowest in the nation for hospice utilization, with many residents waiting until the final days of life to enter hospice. As the only hospice provider serving all five NYC boroughs, we are committed to removing barriers to hospice care. By expanding our admissions and care teams and streamlining enrollment processes, we are ensuring that more New Yorkers receive compassionate hospice services when they need them most—without delay.
To make a Hospice referral, click here.