This week, I’m pleased to share information about Gilchrist’s acquisition of Hospice of Washington County and Franklin County, PA. By combining their resources and expertise, Gilchrist and Hospice of Washington County and Franklin County, PA will build upon each other’s capabilities, enhancing access to care through geographic expansion and scope of services for patients, their families, and communities across Maryland and Pennsylvania. This will strengthen their ability to offer compassionate care to more patients and families throughout Central and Southern Maryland, as well as Washington and Frederick counties, and South-Central Pennsylvania.
This effort is part of a broader vision we've been advancing in recent years. With each partnership—whether it’s our affiliation with Luminis Health Gilchrist Lifecare Institute or this new collaboration—we are working to reshape the way end-of-life care is understood and delivered, ensuring more people receive the care they truly want as they approach the end of life. But why do we put such a strong emphasis on hospice care?
Why Hospice Care Matters
In today’s healthcare system, many patients spend their final days in hospitals, often undergoing treatments that don’t align with their wishes. This happens not because families want it that way, but due to a lack of information and conversations about hospice care. Studies show that most Americans prefer to die at home, surrounded by loved ones. Yet many still end up in hospitals, undergoing treatments that might not improve their quality of life.
Hospice care offers an alternative—a patient-centered, compassionate approach that focuses on comfort, dignity, and respecting the wishes of the individual, while also offering support to the family throughout the process. However, there are still misconceptions surrounding hospice, with some viewing it as “giving up.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Hospice is about living as fully as possible, for as long as possible, with the support of a team dedicated to managing pain and symptoms, and providing emotional and spiritual care. Research even suggests that patients in hospice sometimes live longer than those continuing aggressive treatments.
Educating Our Communities
The key to changing perceptions about hospice care lies in education. Conversations about end-of-life care need to start long before they become urgent. Advance care planning allows patients and families to make informed choices about how they want to live their final days. These discussions lift the burden from loved ones who might otherwise have to make difficult decisions in stressful situations.
Hospice care isn’t about doing nothing—it’s about doing everything to ensure that a person’s final days are spent with peace, comfort, and dignity. The benefits of hospice are not just for the patient; families often report feeling empowered and supported, knowing that they made the right decision for their loved one.
As healthcare leaders, it’s our responsibility to lead these conversations. I encourage primary care providers to openly talk with their patients (while they’re still healthy and well) about advance directives and urge patients to also broach the topic with their physicians.
By expanding hospice access, we are taking a vital step toward ensuring that more people can have the end-of-life experience they desire—a peaceful, comfortable, and dignified transition in a familiar setting, often at home, surrounded by those they love.
Recognizing Cathy Hamel’s Leadership
None of this would be possible without the extraordinary leadership of Cathy Hamel, President of Gilchrist, and Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning for the GBMC HealthCare System. It is fitting that Cathy has recently been named one of Maryland’s 2024 Most Admired CEOs by The Daily Record. Her vision and commitment have driven Gilchrist’s growth and success. Cathy’s leadership has shaped an organization that not only delivers exceptional hospice and elder medical care but also educates and empowers our community to make informed choices about end-of-life care.
Please join me in congratulating Cathy on this well-deserved recognition!
Advanced Practice Provider (APP Week) and Women in Medicine Month
This week, we celebrated our Advanced Practice Providers for their critical role in elevating the fields of medicine and nursing to ensure our patients and communities receive safe, high-quality, evidence-based care. Thank you to our APPs for all you do! And, throughout September, we celebrated Women in Medicine Month by featuring our very own women in medicine at GBMC HealthCare on our social media channels. I hope you’ll take a moment to visit us on social media to honor these individuals who work to make healthcare more equitable.
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