HCHNE merges with Cape Cod hospice provider, HQ to be in R.I.

DIANA FRANCHITTO, CEO of Home Care & Hospice of New England, is expected to take the reins of the combination of the Rhode Island palliative care institution and Cape Cod-based HopeHealth when they complete an affiliation. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO
DIANA FRANCHITTO, CEO of Home Care & Hospice of New England, is expected to take the reins of the combination of the Rhode Island palliative care institution and Cape Cod-based HopeHealth when they complete an affiliation. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – Home Care & Hospice of New England is affiliating with Hyannis, Mass.-based HopeHealth to create what it’s calling the largest nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider in New England.

In a non-cash transaction, the affiliation is expected to be finalized in the beginning of next year. Diana Franchitto, president and CEO of Home Care & Hospice of New England, says combining services will allow the groups to better serve the region in what she calls a complex and ever-evolving and competitive health care environment.

“Hospice and palliative care is becoming a very specialized field of medicine, and because of our experience in hospice and palliative care and what we have to offer the community, this alignment with HopeHealth allows us to reach a greater market area,” Franchitto said. “The complementary services will benefit our communities and our patients.

Home Care & Hospice of New England is the parent of Providence-based Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island – the second oldest hospice in the nation specializing in hospice and palliative care – and Lincoln-based Visiting Nurse Home Care.

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A final contract detailing the specifics of the affiliation is expected to be drawn up and approved by the boards during the next few months.

Together, with HopeHealth, the three entities’ yearly revenue is project to total $75 million, and the number employees is expected to total 670 people, according to Franchitto.

There will be no layoffs in the transition, she added.

Through the amalgamation, Home Care & Hospice of New England will adopt the HopeHealth brand. Franchitto says Hope “describes exactly what we do in providing hope on so many levels and it aligns quite nicely with the state motto.”

The Rhode Island state motto is “Hope.”

Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island will also change its name to Hope Hospice & Palliative Care of Rhode Island and Visiting Nurse Home Care will become Visiting Nurse of HopeHealth.

The Massachusetts organization will become HopeHealth Massachusetts.

Franchitto says discussions regarding the possibility of an affiliation began about six months ago. David Rehm, president and CEO of HopeHeath, is retiring this year after 12 years at the helm, and Franchitto will assume the president and CEO title for all three entities.

Franchitto says she and Rehm have known each other professionally for a number of years and that Rehm previously worked at Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island from 1986 to 1998.

“This affiliation was inspired by a common desire to advance our missions,” Rehm said in a statement. “Achieving a critical mass of combined services as well as an expanded footprint will give us greater financial strength, access to talent and a more robust infrastructure. It will also allow us to be more efficient and cost-effective – all with the goal of enhancing our ability to deliver high-quality, compassionate care and supportive services in our communities.”

The affiliation will expand the combined nonprofit’s footprint to include all of Rhode Island and southeastern and eastern Massachusetts in the counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and Plymouth.

The group is currently developing a long-term, integration plan to enable the combined organization “to grow, creating more jobs to better serve our patients and their families,” Franchitto said.

The merging of the two organizations comes three years after Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island and Visiting Nurse Home Care affiliated. When asked whether there were any further plans to expand the group’s footprint in the future, Franchitto said:

“Well, I think as the health care system evolves and opportunities [arise], we will look at them, but for now we’re so excited about HopeHealth and becoming a strong regional provider for the seriously ill.”

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