Valley Presbyterian Hospital Begins Providing Hospice Care with VITAS Healthcare Corporation

Business Wire, August 6, 2007

VAN NUYS, Calif. -- Valley Presbyterian Hospital (VPH) has expanded its role of providing compassionate, state-of-the-art care to end-of-life care for hospice patients from VITAS Innovative Hospice Care([R]) of Los Angeles and Ventura County.

The agreement between VPH and VITAS, which operates 42 hospice programs throughout the country, will mean that hospice patients requiring an inpatient level of care may be admitted to the hospital when VPH beds are available.

"Although more than 90 percent of all hospice patients receive care at home (which includes residents of nursing homes and assisted living communities), hospice patients occasionally require the higher level of care available at a hospital for pain and symptom management," explained Susie Fishenfeld, RN, MSN, CHPN, Senior General Manager of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Los Angeles and Ventura County. "Working with the highly skilled staff at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, VITAS can ensure patients facing a life-limiting diagnosis who require hospitalization get the high quality medical, emotional and spiritual care for which hospice is so well known," she added.

VPH President and Chief Executive Officer Albert L. Greene described the agreement between the two healthcare institutions as "our mutual commitment to the community" and a good example of how to integrate healthcare services. "Hospice care is a fundamental service to the entire family," Greene said. "End-of-life care is complex and sometimes requires support from hospital caregivers. By offering hospital services to hospice patients, VPH is helping to fulfill a very significant need."

"In making these beds available to patients facing a life-limiting diagnosis, VPH is demonstrating its commitment and ability to meet the community's healthcare needs at every stage of life," Fishenfeld said.

About Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Founded in 1958, Valley Presbyterian Hospital is one of the largest acute care hospitals in the San Fernando Valley. The 350-bed facility offers leading-edge technology and medical expertise in maternal and child health, cardiac care, orthopedics, and critical care services. VPH has more than 500 physicians representing virtually every specialty and most sub-specialties. For more information, visit our website at: www.valleypres.org