ANN ARBOR, Mich., (July 13, 2020) – Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice, founding members of the NorthStar Care Community (NSCC), have joined a national telephone referral network of 70+ not-for-profit providers, under the umbrella of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation (NPHI).
When faced with a serious illness or need for end-of-life care, some individuals may prefer a not-for-profit hospice and palliative care provider with deep roots in their community. Finding a care provider that’s driven by a mission to serve, not by profits can be even more difficult when searching for care providers for an out-of-town family member. 844-GET-NPHI (844-438-6744) will connect families with a not-for-profit provider closest to their loved one.
NSCC will provide the infrastructure for the hotline, in addition to joining this national telephone referral network. NSCC is uniquely qualified to support the NPHI’s telephone referral network, tapping into its existing technology and expertise operating a 24/7 contact center for Hospice of Michigan, Arbor Hospice and 11 other hospice organizations across the country.
When individuals call 844-GET-NPHI (844-438-6744), the NSCC contact center staff will answer on behalf of NPHI and provide the caller with a list of local NPHI member providers closest to their loved one. NSCC and its affiliated brands will remain anonymous to callers, ensuring the referral process is kept fair.
“The NorthStar Care Community is proud not only to be a participant in this referral network, but to answer the call for families across the country in their time of need,” said Bob Cahill, president and CEO of the NorthStar Care Community. “Both Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice offer a 24/7 Contact Center staffed by 58 employees to make sure care is always a phone call away for patients and families in the communities we serve. We’re proud to be part of this national network that makes a complicated long-distance process simpler. Our goal is to help people get the care they need from the clinicians they want.”
Since its launch this spring, the NPHI hotline has received 191 calls for referrals across the country.
“The infrastructure and technology NorthStar Care Community provides allows us to connect patients and caregivers with not-for-profit member organizations across the nation,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, president and CEO of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation. “We’re pleased to run the national telephone referral hotline through NSCC because their knowledgeable employees already understand the unique needs of hospice patients and caregivers, and they are able to provide seamless operations and continuity of care.”
NSCC was formed in 2017 by two legacy not-for-profit hospice agencies – Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice. Together, both organizations have been serving communities across the lower peninsula of Michigan for more than 40 years, ensuring all who need end-of-life care, regardless of age, diagnosis or ability to pay, has access to it. Through their partnership, NSCC offers an extensive array of integrated programs and services which range from core hospice programs to pediatric services, palliative care to education and training. To learn more, please visit www.northstarcarecommunity.org or call 888-247-5701.
For those looking for care across the county, please call 844-GET-NPHI (844-438-6744) to learn about the NPHI member or other not-for-profit care-at-home providers.
About NorthStar Care Community
NorthStar Care Community (NSCC) was created to preserve and promote the mission of nonprofit hospice and palliative care – to deliver expert, compassionate care to patients of any age, no matter their diagnoses, complexity of care, place of residence or ability to pay. NorthStar Care Community was formed in 2017 by two legacy nonprofit hospice agencies – Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice – and also includes NorthStar Palliative Care, the NorthStar Institute and Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children. As members of the NSCC family, the organizations combine operational resources in order to maximize support at each patient’s bedside, delivering the highest standards of care to those who are seriously ill. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve more than 5,100 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information about NorthStar Care Community, visit www.northstarcarecommunity.org
About the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation
The National Partnership for Hospice Innovation (NPHI), formed in 2014, is a collaborative of 70+ not-for-profit, community-integrated, hospice and palliative care providers from across the United States who play a unique role as a crucial safety net for the sickest, most vulnerable patients in the communities they serve. For more information, visit www.hospiceinnovations.org.