Avera and Spencer Hospital to Partner for Hospice and Home Care Services

posted on Friday, February 19, 2021 in General

Spencer Hospital will initiate a joint business arrangement with Avera@Home beginning March 1, 2021, for the provision of hospice and home care services.

The collaboration will entail Spencer Hospital’s local care professionals maintaining the continuity of current services while benefiting from Avera@Home’s business operations expertise in areas that include service quality, regulatory compliance, supply chain, billing, evolving technologies and overall operating efficiency.

“The business and regulatory climate related to hospice and home health services is complex,” said Spencer Hospital president Bill Bumgarner.  “Collaborating with a larger organization in this instance is a responsible step in that Avera will offer expertise that a small rural hospital cannot match on a stand-alone basis.  In addition, Spencer Hospital and Avera share similar cultures related to a commitment to quality care and business integrity.”

Spencer Hospital currently engages in successful partnerships with Avera in areas that include family medicine, home medical equipment, cancer care, supply chain and others.

“I view our partnerships with Avera as win-win-win situations,” he said.  “They add value for local patients while also enhancing business performance for both Spencer Hospital and Avera.”

Current care professionals will remain employees of Spencer Hospital.  Avera@Home will provide administrative and clinical support, working closely with the Spencer leadership team.

“Patients will notice a new name while experiencing the same great service from the same skilled, compassionate clinical team they’ve come to rely on,” said Alana Clark, director for Avera@Home of Spencer Hospital. “Joining together will ensure continued quality, compassionate home health and hospice services across the region.”

“We will do everything we can to make this a smooth transition for patients in the Spencer and Clay County region. Patients can look forward to care with Avera’s high level of quality, along with the compassion for which Avera is known,” said Sandy Dieleman, President and CEO of Avera@Home.

Dieleman shared that care in the home is a growing trend in health care nationally and is particularly important in rural communities.

“Given the choice, most people would prefer to be at home as opposed to a hospital or long-term care facility. It’s also a less expensive option,” she said. “Care in a home environment is familiar, comfortable, safe and easier for the patient’s family. Our goal is to use best practices in home care to provide every patient the best care, every time.”

To learn more, please go to AveraatHome.org or SpencerHospital.org.