Contact: media@bannerhealth.com

GREELEY, Colo. (Feb. 5, 2019) – Banner Health today announced the acquisition of TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado (TRU HNC), which provides end-of-life care to patients in Weld County.

Non-profit Banner will assume operations of TRU HNC over the next 60-90 days to ensure a smooth and seamless transition of patients and employees into Banner.

“We’re honored to bring TRU HNC into Banner Health and we are committed to ensuring that these transfers occur as smoothly as possible for patients and their families,’’ said Margo Karsten, chief executive officer for Banner in Northern Colorado and president of Banner’ s Western Region. 

Patients and families are being notified of the transition and are encouraged to talk with their hospice care team if they have any questions.

“Banner will build on TRU HNC’s foundation of providing palliative care and hospice services focusing on integration and expansion to better serve our communities through a more comprehensive continuum of care,’’ Karsten said. “We see hospice and palliative care services as essential to our provision of high quality care to our patients through all stages of their lives.’’

Banner currently operates a comprehensive hospice and palliative care service in other markets, including Phoenix, Ariz. It has consistently scored above the national average for all quality measures within the Medicare Hospice Quality Reporting Program, with an overall average of 99 percent. Recent patient experience results show that 90 percent of all families would strongly recommend Banner Hospice for end-of-life care.

“Banner Hospice, Banner Palliative Care, and the Banner Bridge to Hospice program comprise Banner’s systemwide Advanced Illness Resources continuum focused on poly-chronic patients with life-limiting illness. We are excited to bring these programs to Northern Colorado to integrate with our existing palliative care teams at NCMC and McKee Medical Centers”, said Morgan Allen, senior director for Banner Palliative Care and Hospice Services. 

TRU HNC, which is headquartered in Greeley, Colo., has been serving Weld County since 1978, providing in-home care to those with life-limiting illnesses. It employs about 20 people in Northern Colorado.

“We are confident that by joining together with Banner, our community will be better served with a stronger, coordinated system of care to meet the expanding needs of our growing communities,’’ said Michael McHale, TRU’s president and CEO.  “The acquisition of TRU HNC will not have an impact on any of TRU Community Care’s other Colorado operations.”
 

About Banner Health

Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 28 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services; including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com.

About TRU Community Care

TRU Community Care, founded as Boulder Hospice in 1976, is a nonprofit health care organization serving the greater Boulder , Broomfield, Adams, Jefferson and Weld counties. With a focus on providing a continuum of care for members of the community living with advanced illness and loss, TRU's programs include TRU PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), hospice home care, inpatient hospice care (at Longmont United Hospital), palliative care and grief support services. For more information, visit www.TRUCARE.org
 

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