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Reaching a 20-year milestone is significant for any healthcare organization. Doing so while reshaping a business model, expanding across 33 states, and caring for more than 180,000 patients each year is something else entirely.
Few leaders have witnessed that transformation as closely as Laura Templeton, Chief Operating Officer. Laura, a nurse by background, joined Compassus in 2012. She’ s held leadership roles spanning operations, strategy, partnerships, and clinical care, helping Compassus transform into a national home-based care organization serving communities across the country.“ When I started with Compassus almost 14 years ago, we were only in nine states and cared for 2,500 hospice patients.”
As Compassus enters its third decade, demand for home-based care continues to grow and healthcare providers must deliver more coordinated experiences outside traditional care settings. Originally founded as a hospice provider in 2006, Compassus has evolved alongside the industry to offer hospice, home health, home care, community-based palliative care, and home infusion services through a workforce of more than 10,000 teammates. During Laura’ s tenure, that evolution expanded the organization’ s ability to support patients across more of their healthcare journey while strengthening partnerships throughout the care continuum.
For Laura, navigating change has become a defining part of leadership. Healthcare never stands still. New regulations, workforce pressures, technology, and patient expectations continually reshaping the industry.“ It’ s a skill and a mindset,” she says.“ As a leader, I adapt to change and help others feel comfortable as they move through it.”
Expanding access
Over the past decade, Compassus has expanded both its services and its reach, driven by a belief that more patients should be able to receive care in the place they call home.
Laura sees one of Compassus’ greatest opportunities in expanding access to home-based care.“ The post-acute space is underutilized.” Too many patients leave the hospital without home care, never receive hospice services, or don’ t access support through private duty or infusion care. Compassus focuses on helping more people get the care they deserve and creating a smoother healthcare journey.
Meeting this need takes collaboration across healthcare organizations, providers, and communities. Health system partnerships now define Compassus’ s growth strategy. These relationships improve care transitions, expand access, strengthen coordination, and benefit everyone involved, especially patients and communities.
▲ Laura Templeton
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