Today, Wellforce and Home Health Foundation announced that they have joined forces to create one of the largest home health and hospice providers in the region. Home Health Foundation is now a member of Wellforce. Together, the organizations will expand and enhance post-acute care in Eastern Massachusetts with a focus north of Boston into Southern New Hampshire and Maine.
“There is a tremendous and growing need for home health services and there is no better partner than the highly respected Home Health Foundation under the leadership of CEO Karen Gomes,” said Wellforce CEO, Norm Deschene. “Having Home Health Foundation as a member of Wellforce will enhance our ability to help patients manage challenging health conditions, recover from illness and injury and to address end of life needs. This relationship builds on our commitment to providing care when and where our patients need it.”
With this agreement, first announced in July and filed with the Health Policy Commission, Home Health Foundation joins Wellforce to partner with current home care members, Circle Home and Hallmark Health VNA and Hospice. Home health services provide a vital link in the continuum of care and delivering care in the home can improve the health of residents, make care more affordable and provide a better quality of life to those with serious and chronic illnesses.
“We are excited to become a member of Wellforce and work with its hospitals, physicians and home health and hospice providers to set new standards of efficient, effective and compassionate care,” said Gomes. “The delivery of quality home care services is more important now than ever as the population ages and patients want to remain in their own homes This has been our work for more than 120 years and we are committed to the patients and families who are depending on our care today and as we move toward an exciting future. We look forward to working with Diane Farraher-Smith, President of Hallmark Health VNA & Hospice and Interim Executive Director of Circle Home, as we bring together all of our strengths and resources to provide the exceptional care our patients expect .”
Coordinated home health services have been shown to increase patient satisfaction, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and decrease readmissions. These services also help providers manage costs in risk contracts and reduce costs to patients, many of whom have high deductible insurance plans.
About Wellforce
Wellforce is the health system formed by Tufts Medical Center and Circle Health in 2014. On January 1, 2017, MelroseWakefield Healthcare (formerly Hallmark Health) became the third founding member. Wellforce provides hospitals and physicians with a better option for collaboration. Our system brings together the strengths of academic medicine and community care in a model that respects both equally. Our independent-minded, value-driven members are dedicated to providing patients with the highest-level of care when and where they want it. Wellforce includes nearly 3,000 physicians, 12,000 employees, four community hospital campuses, one academic medical center, a children’s hospital, home health and hospice services, and $1.7 billion in revenue.
About Home Health Foundation
Home Health Foundation, which includes Home Health VNA, Merrimack Valley Hospice and HomeCare, Inc., is one of the most respected home health and hospice agencies in this region. Home Health Foundation is a multi-state, full-service provider of certified home health, palliative, hospice and private duty services with annual revenue of $60 million. The agency services 110 cities and towns throughout Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire with five offices and a 21-suite hospice house which together provide care to more than 16,000 patients annually. Additionally, Merrimack Valley Hospice serves the Southern Maine region as York Hospital Hospice in partnership with York Hospital. The agencies play a critical role in the health and welfare of patients and families, and are committed to innovation, clinical excellence and personalized care.