Local Nonprofit Hospice Won’t Be Sold to For-Profit

By Skagit Regional Health and United General District 304

Contributed Photo/HNW

Board members of Skagit County Public Hospital District No. 1 (Skagit Regional Health) and Public Hospital District No. 304 (United General District 304) each voted on Friday, Dec. 18 to discontinue further consideration of a potential purchase agreement for Hospice of the Northwest.

The two public hospital districts co-own and manage Hospice of the Northwest, a service that provides comprehensive medical care and support for patients facing life-limiting illness and the loved ones who care for them.

Over the past year, the boards were reviewing an opportunity to potentially sell Hospice of the Northwest as a result of receiving an unsolicited offer from a national hospice provider.

During the process, the board members remained consistently focused on ensuring that the quality of care and breadth of services offered locally would be equal or improved, now and into the future.

After a thorough review of the data, the boards announced that they have determined that the opportunity did not meet the threshold of improving the already very high-quality, outstanding service offered by Hospice of the Northwest.

“I am very proud of our board for taking a hard look at this opportunity, asking tough questions and insisting on quality and access as priorities,” said Julie Blazek, president of Skagit County Public Hospital District No. 1, Skagit Regional Health Board of Commissioners. “We appreciate the interest and support shown by the community to sustain hospice services in our region.”

“As an elected official of United General District 304, the Commissioners felt it was our responsibility to complete a due diligence process of an unsolicited offer to sell Hospice of the Northwest,” said Jeri Kaufman, president of the Public Hospital District 304 Board of Commissioners. “After a thorough review and evaluation process, the District 304 Commissioners do not feel this offer meets our standards to continue improving the quality of care and expand the great services already offered by Hospice of the Northwest.”

Hospice of the Northwest, originally known as Skagit Hospice, has provided services to residents of Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties for more than 30 years. Based in Mount Vernon, Hospice of the Northwest has 85 staff members serving an average census of 170 patients who live in their private homes and care facilities.

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