James and Angela Hambrick Foundation Donates $2 Million to Fund Care Solutions Center

Hospice of the Western Reserve has announced plans to launch a $3.25 million technologically advanced Care Solutions Center, which will dramatically expand access to hospice and palliative care within the nonprofit agency’s 10-county Northern Ohio service area. The new center is funded through a leadership gift of $2 million from the James and Angela Hambrick Foundation along with matching grants from the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation and The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation. 

“We are so grateful to James and Angela Hambrick for their vision and their support,” said Laura Rayburn, president of the Hospice of the Western Reserve Foundation. “Their gift not only allowed us to immediately begin the construction and implementation of this transformational project; it also made it possible for us to raise the full amount required to bring the Care Solutions Center into operation. We are deeply appreciative to all three foundations for their ongoing generous support of our mission in the community.”

James Hambrick, a long-time supporter and previous member of the board of directors said: “Angela and I have seen first-hand the life-changing impact of Hospice of the Western Reserve’s care for patients and families. We are honored that our gift will play a key role in helping more families quickly and easily access the quality care everyone deserves through the advanced capabilities of this innovative Care Solutions Center.”

Construction and buildout have begun. Hiring, training and system testing will be occurring throughout the year. The Care Solutions Center is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2022.  

“With the significant growth we have experienced, the advanced technology built into this system will allow us to function at maximum efficiency and innovate how we respond to inquiries and deploy caregivers. Families will benefit from immediate access to knowledgeable hospice experts and timely visits during one of the most stressful times in their lives. It will truly become the heartbeat of the agency,” said Bill Finn, president and CEO.

The demand for hospice care in Northeast Ohio has increased dramatically in the last 15 years. At the same time, the daily reimbursement rate for hospice care is decreasing. The new technology will play an essential role in allowing HWR to expand access to all of the services it offers, including hospice care, the Western Reserve Navigator palliative care program, pediatric hospice and palliative care and community-wide bereavement support. 

The new center will eliminate administrative tasks and improve response time. Agents will have everything at their fingertips to handle questions and care requests. Increased connectivity will mean HWR providers can coordinate, dispatch clinicians and problem-solve faster than ever. Physicians and community referral sources will be able to offer their patients faster enrollments. 

The system will automatically perform patient check-in calls and alert staff when follow up is needed. Pre-programmed surveys will collect and compile real-time feedback on caller satisfaction. Ongoing reporting and data analysis will identify areas for future improvement. 

“The Care Solutions Center will be a resource that drives partnerships, joint ventures and collaborations between HWR and other nonprofit hospices throughout Ohio,” Finn said. “Ultimately, it may become a service we offer other area hospices to help them improve access to care and efficiency within their service areas.”