By arhospice on January 17th, 2022

Media Contact:  David Edwards, Director of Communications
Phone:  501-748-3303
Email:  dedwards@arkansashospice.org

North Little Rock, Ark. – Arkansas Hospice, the state’s largest nonprofit provider of hospice care, announced “Caring for 30 Years” today as January 17^th marks the organization’s 30^th anniversary. Since its inception, the community-based, not-for-profit provider has grown from one location to ten regional offices and three inpatient centers that provide care for nearly 600 patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families each day across a 43-county service area.

Judy Wooten, President and CEO, remarked, “Continuing and expanding the mission of Arkansas Hospice can be attributed to our visionary founders, Dee Brazil-Dale and the late Michael V. Aureli. We continue to thrive because of our dedicated employees, whose compassion sets the standard for care throughout the state. 2022 marks not only a celebration of caring since 1992, but also a time to look to the future as we continue to develop new and better ways to serve our fellow Arkansans.” Arkansas Hospice has expanded its continuum of care through the years by opening its own inpatient centers, launching a palliative care division in 2015, and most recently the acquisition of non-medical, in-home care provider First Choice Senior Care in January of this year.

Dr. Brian Bell, Arkansas Hospice Chief Medical Officer, added, “Our goal is to help Arkansans live better. We do this by not only meeting their physical needs but their emotional and spiritual ones as well. Care extends beyond the patient to their family and surrounding communities through grief support, volunteers, veterans services, and many other programs.”

What makes Arkansas Hospice different?

• As a nonprofit organization, Arkansas Hospice is committed to delivering care to patients and families in rural and hard-to-reach areas of the state, minority outreach, and other underserved populations, providing the same high-quality care to all, regardless of ability to pay.
• Arkansas Hospice is “Committed to Veterans” with a specialized program that focuses on improving care for those who have served our country. Arkansas Hospice is the only healthcare provider in the state accredited by the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs and one of the first hospices in the nation to achieve We Honor Veterans Level 5 certification.
• Arkansas Palliative Care, a subsidiary of Arkansas Hospice, was formed in 2015 to make palliative care services available to patients earlier in their disease process. Since its inception, Arkansas Palliative Care has expanded into multiple area hospitals and provides community-based palliative care.
• Arkansas Hospice is the first hospice in the state to have a dedicated pediatric team, which has cared for the end-of-life needs of hundreds of children and their families throughout the state.
• Arkansas Hospice continues to be recognized for its service to Arkansans, including being named Arkansas Business Best Nonprofit/Charitable Organization in the Best of Business Awards, Best Nonprofit Fundraising Event, and Best Places to Work. Awards have also been presented by HEALTHCAREfirst for Hospice Elite status, and multiple Diamond Awards for excellence in healthcare communications from the Arkansas Hospital Association.
• A thought leader in the state, regionally and nationally, Arkansas Hospice is an active member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Arkansas (HPCAA), the Texas Nonprofit Hospice Alliance (TNPHA), and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI). Members of our executive team serve in leadership roles for many of these and other organizations.

Planning is currently underway for a company-wide and community event to celebrate the anniversary later this year, with more announcements coming regarding service lines and patient care. A timeline of key milestones in the history of Arkansas Hospice and more anniversary content are available at https://arkansashospice.org/30years.

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About Arkansas Hospice

Caring since 1992, Arkansas Hospice’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for those facing serious illness and loss by surrounding them with love and embracing them with the best in physical, emotional, and spiritual care. The hospice care provider is the recipient of numerous local, state, and national awards, as well as numerous other awards for quality of care, including Hospice Honors Elite from HEALTHCAREfirst, as well as the only hospice in Arkansas to be certified by the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs for nonprofit service to Arkansas’ veteran population. For more information, visit https://arkansashospice.org.