Rethinking Hospice At Your Health
In this first of a two-part series, Jamie sits down with Chief Ancillary Officer Matt Whitehead and President of Operations for South Carolina, Veronica McMahon, to introduce Your Health’s brand-new Hospice Program. They break down why the organization created this service, what gap it fills in the continuum of care, and why hospice—though often misunderstood—is a vital extension of Your Health’s mission to provide patient-centered, compassionate, and innovative solutions. In this episode, you’ll hear the difference between palliative and hospice care, why the “six-month rule” exists, what clinical and non-clinical signs may indicate hospice eligibility, and how the new program keeps patients with the same trusted team they know and love. It’s a thoughtful, candid, and inspiring look at a service designed to honor patient wishes, avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, and support families during some of life’s most challenging moments.
Your Health University Podcast · Veronica McMahon, Jamie Preston, Matt Whitehead
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Show Notes
KEY POINTS
- Your Health is launching a new hospice program to complete the continuum of care.
- Hospice is not new to leadership—team members have decades of experience.
- Palliative care and hospice work together:
- Palliative can continue indefinitely
- Hospice begins when disease progression reaches an advanced stage and patients choose comfort over curative treatment
- Hospice helps patients avoid unnecessary ER visits, hospital stays, and stressful care transitions.
- The new program allows patients to stay with their same care team, maintaining continuity and trust.
- Eligibility begins with specific diagnoses and a provider’s order, supported by clinical and non-clinical indicators like frequent falls, increased symptoms, or significant weight loss.
- The “six-month rule” is based on normal disease progression, not an exact timeline.
- The new hospice service enhances value-based care, controlling costs while improving outcomes.
- Your Health staff play an important role in asking, “**What matters to you?**”
- The program ultimately expands patient choice and honors their wishes with compassion and dignity.
www.YourHealth.Org