The quality of a loved one's final days should never be determined by their zip code. But for millions of families in rural America, that's often the case. While cities have multiple hospice options, nearly 40% of rural counties in the U.S. have no hospice provider at all[62]. Our portfolio company, THEMA Health Services, is proving it doesn't have to be this way. Their innovative model for delivering end-of-life care across Arizona's vast territories offers a blueprint for how to reach every family that needs comfort and dignity, no matter where they live[63].
A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight
The reality of rural hospice access is stark. The lack of providers often leads to more deaths in emergency rooms instead of at home, more unmanaged pain, and immense strain on families. In a state like Arizona, with its huge distances, these challenges are magnified.The THEMA Model: Bringing Hospice Home
When we invested in THEMA in 2021[64], we were backing a different approach, one built to overcome the challenge of distance. A Commitment to the Underserved: They deliberately choose to serve the rural and remote areas that other providers have bypassed. Technology as a Lifeline: They use telehealth for immediate support consultations with families who might be 100 miles from the nearest nurse, and mobile platforms to keep the entire care team coordinated. Deep Community Integration: THEMA partners with the local doctors, hospitals, and community groups that families already trust.The Economics of Compassion
Many investors assume rural markets are too costly to serve profitably. THEMA proves them wrong by rethinking the model. Route optimization makes nurses more efficient. Partnering with local providers reduces infrastructure costs. And as healthcare moves to value-based contracts, payers recognize that high-quality hospice saves the entire system money by preventing costly and traumatic ER visits. Ultimately, the success of this model isn't measured on a balance sheet. It's measured in the families who get to say their final goodbyes in the comfort of their own home. It's measured in the communities that know they haven't been forgotten. THEMA's work is a powerful reminder that high-quality, compassionate care can—and must—reach every corner of our country.References
- National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, rural hospice access statistics, https://www.nhpco.org/hospice-care-overview/hospice-facts-figures ↩
- THEMA Health Services portfolio description, https://pharosfunds.com/thema-health-services.php ↩
- THEMA Health Services investment year, https://pharosfunds.com/thema-health-services.php (2021) ↩
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