WEYMOUTH – South Shore Health plans to discontinue its hospice services and will instead refer patients to the Norwell Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice for care.
Leaders have been looking for ways to preserve the “high quality, compassionate care,” while doing what’s best for the community, reads a statement provided by South Shore Health.
“Through this work, and after careful consideration, we have made substantial progress toward an agreement with NVNA and Hospice, a 5-star patient experience provider of hospice services in the region,” the statement said. “As a result, our plan is to discontinue hospice services, and for NVNA and Hospice to become South Shore Health’s preferred provider for hospice care.”
South Shore Health plans to continue its Visiting Nurses Association program, which it says provides “a unique, vital service” for the community.
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The health system said the Norwell NVA and Hospice plans to hire many of its hospice staff. Those who want to keep working at South Shore Health will have options for similar jobs.
The NVNA and Hospice serves 27 communities with dozens of nurses, averaging hundreds of daily visits.
South Shore Health owns the 396-bed South Shore Hospital in Weymouth and in recent years has expanded its footprint on the South Shore. It opened a metabolic and bariatric surgery center, took over as the primary ambulance service provider for Weymouth, and acquired Health Express, the largest urgent care provider on the South Shore.