Gainesville, Florida (October 1, 2015) — To further strengthen the delivery of high quality home health and hospice services to patients and families throughout Monroe County, Haven Hospice has formed an affiliation with the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of the Florida Keys (VNAHFK).

“We welcome VNAHFK as an affiliate of Haven Hospice and SantaFe HealthCare as of October 1,” said SantaFe HealthCare President and CEO Michael P. Gallagher about the arrangement which recently received regulatory approval. “With the resources, skills and expertise that Haven brings, VNAHFK will be able to strengthen and advance their mission in Monroe County,” said Gallagher. “We also recognize the critical importance of fundraising. We are committed to ensuring that all funds raised from donors in Monroe County are restricted for programs and services being provided to patients and families in Monroe County, and we have put mechanisms in place to do just that.”

VNAHFK Board Chair Richard Grusin explained why the affiliation with Haven Hospice was such an excellent fit. “VNAHFK’s Board of Directors recognized that with increasingly complex regulations, declines in reimbursements and constant changes in healthcare, VNAHFK needed to identify and affiliate with another organization sharing a similar mission and vision to ensure continued home health and end-of-life programs and services for the residents of Monroe County.”

Established over 36 years ago in Gainesville, Haven is one of the nation’s largest, not-for-profit hospice and palliative organizations serving patients and families in 18 North Florida counties. Haven is an affiliate of SantaFe HealthCare, a not-for-profit corporation with an existing strong presence in south Florida through its other affiliates including AvMed, a health plan based in Miami and Santa-Fe Senior Living, which includes East Ridge Retirement Village in Cutler Bay.

“Haven Hospice will provide strategic and day-to-day management as well as operational oversight,” said Haven Hospice Interim President Jim Poole. “More importantly, VNAHFK will now have access to Haven’s talented management, administrative, technology, legislative, regulatory and other necessary support services which will make their organization more cost-effective while enhancing their ability to provide high quality care to patients and families in Monroe County.”

About Haven Hospice: Haven Hospice is your not-for-profit, community hospice organization providing comprehensive services since 1979 and licensed in Florida since 1980. Haven is North Florida’s expert in end-of-life and palliative care, receiving national recognition as a Circle of Life Award Recipient from the American Hospital Association for its excellence and innovation. Haven has also been recognized as a Florida Pacesetter for its leadership in promoting advance directives. For more than 36 years Haven has had the honor and privilege to serve more than 74,000 patients and families in North Florida. For more information, visit www.havenhospice.org or call 800-727-1889 or 800-HOSPICE.