Pat Ahern Appointed CEO of CHPC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rosemary J. Collins, APR, Dir. of Public Relations & Community Marketing
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TOP EXECUTIVE PATRICIA AHERN,
APPOINTED CEO of THE CENTER FOR HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

Cheektowaga, NY January 10, 2014 – Patricia Ahern, RN, MBA, FACHE has been named the new chief executive officer of The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC). Ms. Ahern is slated to begin her new role at CHPC on Monday, March 17, 2014. Prior to her new role, Ms. Ahern served as President & CEO of Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care in Park Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Ms. Ahern brings 30 years of health care experience that touches both the acute care hospital setting and end-of-life care setting, including hospice and palliative care. Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care is a $23 million organization that has an average daily census of 325 patients and a palliative care patient census of 600. Ms. Ahern is a well respected community leader and is known for successful collaborations within health care.

“The Board of Trustees is enthusiastic about our appointment of Patricia Ahern as Hospice's next CEO. Pat brings years of experience and expertise to our organization and will only enhance CHPC’s position within our Western New York health care community,” stated John Reinhold, CHPC’s Chairman of the Board.

“I chose to consider New York’s Hospice Buffalo because it is so widely regarded as one of the most influential pioneers in America for end-of-life care,” stated Pat Ahern. “It is a very large and comprehensive not-for-profit organization that plays a meaningful part in everyday life throughout Erie County, New York. I am eager for the challenge of serving a community that depends on this, the only Hospice and Palliative Care program in this county. After several conversations and visits to the Buffalo region, I feel as if we two have found each other as kindred spirits. I know dedication and fidelity and compassion when I see them and I was humbled and inspired by the team at Hospice Buffalo. I talked to people on the street, on the airplane, in restaurants and with family members at the holiday tree lighting ceremony. I could see and hear the community dedication to this hospice. Additionally, I talked to nationally recognized experts in our field and was heartily encouraged to consider this opportunity. I cannot wait to serve this community treasure that plays so significant a role in never to be forgotten life events for so many.”

As CEO, Ms. Ahern oversees The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care’s corporations including Hospice Buffalo, Inc., that provides medical care, emotional and spiritual support to children, adults and families in their home, hospital, adult home/nursing facility or other home-like hospice inpatient settings; Supportive Medical Partners, which provides palliative care and consultation to any patient with serious illness, regardless of prognosis; Essential Care for Children, a nationally recognized home care program serving children with life threatening illness and their families; Life Transitions Center, a provider of grief counseling and support groups concerning grief, loss and coping with serious illness; the Hospice Foundation of WNY and the Palliative Care Institute, a collaborative with the University at Buffalo.

The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care is one of the nation’s largest hospice and palliative care organizations. More than 600 patients are cared for each day by Hospice Buffalo and its affiliate, Supportive Medical Partners. CHPC employs 450 individuals and has 1,400 active volunteers.