VITAS Healthcare
Extending Care beyond Treatment through Compassion and Continuity

Joel Wherley, CEO

Serious illness often affects more than a patient’s physical condition. Families must navigate medical decisions, emotional strain and changing care needs while trying to preserve comfort and dignity.

VITAS Healthcare addresses this challenge by delivering hospice and palliative care that reaches patients wherever they call home, helping them receive support in familiar surroundings rather than unfamiliar clinical settings. Its model centers on caring for the whole person rather than focusing solely on symptoms. Patients receive medical attention alongside emotional, spiritual and caregiver support. This approach enables individuals and families to access guidance throughout the course of advanced illness while maintaining a greater sense of control over daily life.

Founded in 1978, VITAS has built one of the largest hospice and palliative care networks in the United States. Its services extend across multiple states and care settings, including private homes, assisted living communities, nursing homes and inpatient units. This broad reach allows it to serve patients through a consistent care framework regardless of where care is delivered.

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Patient Care

A defining characteristic of VITAS is its interdisciplinary care methodology. Each patient is supported by a team that may include a physician, nurse, hospice aide, social worker, chaplain, volunteer and bereavement specialist. These professionals work together to address physical comfort while also supporting emotional and spiritual well-being.

The whole process of care starts with individual planning based on a patient’s medical state and their goals, as well as the situation of their family. The team works together to provide various services while assessing the evolving needs of the patient.

Family members also play an important role within this model. Care teams provide education, counseling and practical guidance that help caregivers understand what to expect and how to respond to evolving circumstances. This support helps reduce uncertainty while strengthening the ability of families to participate confidently in care decisions.

Supporting Patients Around the Clock

Illness does not follow a schedule, which is why VITAS maintains continuous access to clinical support. Through its Telecare services, patients and caregivers can contact hospice clinicians twenty-four hours a day throughout the year. When necessary, clinical personnel can be dispatched directly to the bedside to address urgent concerns.

This continuous availability creates a care experience that extends beyond scheduled visits. Questions about symptom management, medications or changing conditions can be addressed quickly, helping patients remain comfortable while reducing unnecessary disruption for families.

The organization also coordinates access to home medical equipment, medications and specialized services that support patients throughout their care journey. Combining clinical expertise with responsive support, it helps individuals remain in their preferred care setting while receiving appropriate assistance as needs change.

Building a National Presence through Holistic Care

What makes VITAS unique is its approach to treating patients based not just on medical care, but also including mental and spiritual support. This holistic approach has been one of the key features of the company's strategy for years.

The company’s nationwide presence reflects the scalability of that approach. Through dozens of service areas and a large network of care professionals, it has demonstrated an ability to deliver consistent hospice and palliative care across diverse communities.

Its interdisciplinary methodology, continuous availability and commitment to whole-person care have enabled VITAS Healthcare to deliver dependable support, broad adoption and meaningful outcomes for patients and families during some of life’s most challenging moments.