VINCENNES — Good Samaritan Hospital has made the “difficult decision” to close its hospice program, effective December 31. The decision, made by the hospital’s Executive Team and Board of Governors, is driven by a focus on long-term sustainability and evolving healthcare trends.
“Since its beginning, our hospice team has provided extraordinary, compassionate care to patients and families across our region,” said Rob McLin, CEO of Good Samaritan. “We hold deep respect for that legacy and are committed to supporting our patients, families, and hospice team throughout this transition.”
Hospital officials noted that the delivery of hospice care has increasingly shifted to organizations dedicated exclusively to end-of-life care. In response, Good Samaritan will concentrate on meeting community needs through its core hospital and outpatient service offerings.
McLin emphasized the proactive nature of the decision: “We have a responsibility to make decisions that protect the future of our community-driven hospital. By making this transition proactively, while we are in a position of stability, we can provide thoughtful support to our patients, families, and team through the change.”
Despite the closure of hospice services, Good Samaritan will continue to provide palliative care services. This specialized, comfort-focused support is a required component of the hospital’s Commission on Cancer accreditation.
Good Samaritan is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for its patients, stating that it is working closely with regional hospice providers and actively exploring multiple partnership strategies. All current hospice patients will receive a letter detailing the transition and available resources.
Importantly, all impacted hospice staff members will be offered positions within Good Samaritan to support them through the change.
