Jefferson General Hospital administrators are worried competition from a private hospice provider will prompt the elimination of an 18-year hospital program.
Jefferson General Home Health and Hospice, which provides grief counseling and care for dying patients, could face new competition from Assured Home Health and Hospice.
Assured Home applied for Medicare hospice certification to operate in Jefferson County earlier this year.
“We believe it would jeopardize our survival,” said Bob Campell, Jefferson General strategic business development officer. “We’ve had 18 good years in the community, and we’re interested in continuing that.”
Assured Home officials previously announced plans to expand into Clallam and Jefferson counties, said Nancy Benson, Assured Home community education coordinator. The company already operates hospices in Thurston, Lewis and Mason counties.
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