Banner Health to close hospice operations; staff moves to Phoenix nonprofit

Phoenix Business Journal
Dec. 4, 2023
by Angela Gonzalez

Banner Health, the state's largest health system, is closing down its own hospice operations and transitioning its patients and hospice staff to another provider.

More than 100 hospice staff from Phoenix-based Banner Health have begun the move over to Hospice of the Valley, said Amy Perry, president of Banner Health.

"Banner Health has transitioned its hospice service to Hospice of the Valley for the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas," Perry said. "This strategic change allows us to have access to a much larger hospice network and a provider that we respect and trust."

Banner is the largest employer in Arizona, with more than 43,000 employees in the Grand Canyon State at last check. The company operates more than a dozen hospitals in the metro, and is planning to build another in Buckeye to help meet the swelling population in the West Valley.

In 2022, Banner Hospice served more than 1,802 patients in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, Perry said.

"Banner Health has chosen to focus on home health and ambulatory services going forward and has chosen HOV as its hospice provider," said Lin Sue Flood, director of community engagement for Hospice of the Valley.

With 1,697 employees, Hospice of the Valley served 23,000 patients and their families last year, Flood said. Across all HOV's care programs — home-based primary care, palliative, dementia, hospice and pediatric — 6,000 patients are served on any given day, she said.

Banner shifting patients to hospice locations in Phoenix, Tucson

Banner is transitioning its patients and employees to HOV locations in Phoenix and Tucson.

"HOV is assuming care for Banner hospice patients and welcoming Banner hospice staff to our agency," Flood said. "As like-minded nonprofits, our missions align. We have worked together for many years providing exceptional care, and this ensures quality care will continue for those in need in our community."

Flood said the transition of care began over the weekend and has been seamless. Hospice care is provided to terminally ill patients no longer seeking medical treatment options. A hospice team provides physical and emotional support services during a patient's last days of life.

As a result of Banner's decision, Hospice of the Valley is now the only nonprofit hospice in the Valley.

“In 46 years, no one has ever been turned away due to financial circumstances. We are committed to strengthening nonprofit, mission-driven hospice care in Arizona and ensuring a safety net for all families in need,” Hospice of the Valley Executive Director Debbie Shumway said in a statement.

All of HOVs hospice care is provided where people live, whether it's in their own home, a group home, assisted living facility or memory care facility, Flood said.

"HOV is unique in that we also have nine inpatient hospice homes to meet short-term acute care needs or to give caregivers a few days of respite," Flood said.

Hospice of the Valley was named one of Phoenix Business Journal's healthiest employers in April.