Fairview’s take on hospice closing

by Ed Felien
   
    Dr. Jim Breitenbucher, Vice President of Medical Affairs for Fairview University Medical Center responded to questions raised in Thomas A. Nelson’s article:
    “We all felt very bad about closing the hospice program, but we had very heavy losses in this program. It was much more heavily staffed than an extended care facility, but we got the same reimbursement as a nursing home. We could not afford it. We tried to make up those losses in other areas. We continue to have programs that do not make a profit, but we felt there are other programs in the community that are available to serve those needs.
    “We have started a new palliative care program and some of the displaced staff will move into that program. Each person in the hospice program was offered another position in the Fairview system. There were no layoffs.
    “The ultimate bottom line is that we all feel very bad that this program had to end. Ultimately, at the end of the day we had to look at the bottom line, and the number had to be positive or we couldn’t exist. That’s true for the whole hospital. They can’t all lose money,” he said.