Valley Health and Blue Ridge Hospice collaborate to offer Hospice in the Hospital program at Warren Memorial Hospital Front Royal, VA

Valley Health and Blue Ridge Hospice have expanded their collaborative Hospice in the Hospital program to Warren Memorial Hospital in Front Royal, VA. On November 1, an agreement was signed for Blue Ridge Hospice to work alongside the hospital’s care team to provide supplemental comfort care services. This ensures eligible patients and families receive comprehensive care during and after their hospital stay.

Hospice in the Hospital originated at Winchester Medical Center in 2020, expanded to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock April 2024 and Page Memorial Hospital in July 2024. With the addition of Warren Memorial Hospital, this expansion now includes all of Valley Health System’s Virginia hospitals. The program exemplifies Blue Ridge Hospice’s commitment to enhancing access to high-quality serious illness and end-of-life-care services, aligned with Valley Health’s mission to deliver exceptional patient care across its hospitals.

"With the expansion of our Hospice in the Hospital program to Warren Memorial Hospital, we are committed to providing comprehensive, compassionate care to adults in our community with serious illness and end-of-life-care needs. This collaboration with Blue Ridge Hospice ensures that patients receive the highest quality hospice care right here in our hospital. As the senior population in our community continues to expand, it is crucial that we enhance our hospital facilities and services to meet their unique needs, as well as those of the general population" said Jennifer Coello, Valley Health Vice President and Administrator of Warren Memorial Hospital.

The program supports hospitalized patients who meet General Inpatient (GIP) hospice criteria, which includes uncontrollable pain and symptoms that require intensive management. It is designed for hospice-eligible patients meeting these criteria to receive hospice care services at Warren Memorial Hospital. “In addition to Valley Health’s excellent care, our team will provide expert pain and symptom management, coordinating a seamless transition from inpatient to hospice care at home when appropriate,” stated Altonia Garrett, Chief Operations Officer at Blue Ridge Hospice. Emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual needs will be supported by the Blue Ridge Hospice team of social workers, music therapists, chaplains, and volunteers.

Blue Ridge Hospice also operates an 8-bed Inpatient Care Center in Winchester, VA, offering round-the-clock care for patients requiring ongoing support.

Jason Parsons, President and CEO of Blue Ridge Hospice, highlighted our partnership's pivotal role in creating a seamless continuum of care. “We are expanding our longstanding collaboration with Valley Health,” Parsons emphasized. “This partnership is rooted in our purpose to widen the circle of access to high-quality, compassionate care across all communities, particularly in rural areas. Too often, families express regret about not contacting hospice sooner. Programs like Hospice in the Hospital enable us to identify patients needing our services promptly, ensuring they receive the care they require.”

Jennifer Coello reinforced Valley Health’s commitment to patient-centered care. “This expansion is part of a broader effort to address the increasing healthcare demands of the aging population in our area,” she said.

The expansion of Hospice in the Hospital to Warren Memorial Hospital underscores Valley Health and Blue Ridge Hospice’s shared dedication to improving end-of-life care accessibility and quality across the region.