JACKSON, MI, Oct. 15, 2010 — Jackson, MI-based Great Lakes Caring has announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to acquire In-House Hospice and Palliative Care. The combination of the two entities will create one of the Midwest’s largest home healthcare and hospice organizations. The merger announcement was made by Great Lakes Caring Chief Executive Officer William Deary.
Deary will continue to serve as CEO when the merger is complete. In-House’s current CEO Laura A. Wagner will assume responsibility as chief operating officer for all hospice operations.
At the present time, Great Lakes Caring will continue to be headquartered in Jackson, MI and In-House will continue to handle hospice operations out of Bingham Farms, MI.
“The two companies share a common mission of providing superior quality care,” explained Deary. “We are both highly focused on the patient experience, exceeding the expectation of physicians and facilities, our primary referral sources, and are committed to providing work-life balance for our employees. We are singularly focused on being the premier provider of a continuum of health care, whether a patient lives in their home or resides in a facility, throughout Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois.”
“The acquisition will ensure our position as the industry leader,” stated Wagner. “It brings to us state-of-the art healthcare technology and techniques while allowing us to remain focused on providing a positive, quality end-of-life experience for patients, their families and caregivers, no matter where they reside.
“Both companies will continue to enhance their position through innovations in patient care and satisfaction. Great Lakes Caring boasts a number of key elements to enhance patient care. For example:
The real-time Homecare Homebase software provides every member of the multidisciplinary team instant access to all patient visit notes on a mobile device; The Homecare Homebase technology reduces required visits to branch offices by automatically downloading patient charts and records to electronic mobile devices, reducing travel time and improving quality time with the patients.
In-House Hospice is one of the leading hospice and palliative care providers in Michigan and Ohio serving nearly 500 patients every day. In-House’s mission is to provide the highest level of quality care to its patients and was selected by The Detroit Free Press as one of the Top Work Places of 2008, 2009 and 2010 for its management team, respect for employees and its commitment to providing one of the best working environments in the state. Headquartered in Bingham Farms, Michigan, it has experienced double-digit growth over the last 12 years and serves patients and their families in more than 40 counties in Michigan and Ohio.
Headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, Great Lakes Caring and Home Medical Equipment employs over 1,150 health care professionals in over 14 offices that provide superior quality home health care, hospice care and palliative care, as well as home medical equipment, every day to over 6,000 patients throughout the Midwest. This superior level of quality care drives over 2,000 physicians to entrust their patients’ care to Great Lakes Caring, which currently serves patients and their families in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.
