Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Voices of Hospice Leadership Podcast

Episode Summary

In this episode, you sit down with Raphael Akobundu, NP and CEO of Blue Monarch Hospice, serving families across North County San Diego. You unpack the difference between being eligible for hospice and being emotionally ready, common myths like 24/7 in-home care, and how clear communication with families and facilities reduces crisis decisions. Raphael also shares practical playbooks for reviews, referral partnerships, and what actually drives census growth in a competitive market.

Key Topics

• Eligibility vs readiness and how to guide families through both
• What hospice covers vs what it does not cover
• Typical visit cadence and how it increases as needs change
• The 24/7 misconception and how to set expectations
• Switching hospices and discharge when patients stabilize
• Building referral partnerships that last
• Why medication workflows between facilities and hospices need standardization
• Owner insights on compliance, costs, and growth

Featured Guest

Raphael Akobundu, NP, CEO, Blue Monarch Hospice
Locally owned, clinician-led hospice serving North County San Diego. Emphasis on small-team communication, right-sized caseloads, and high-touch family support.

Pull Quotes

• “Eligibility and readiness are different conversations. Your job is to meet families where they are.”
• “Communication and clear expectations with facilities prevent most issues before they start.”
• “Great care is your best marketing. Reviews and referrals follow.”

Resources And Links

• Blue Monarch Hospice, North County San Diego
• Connect with Raphael on LinkedIn
• Hospice Care Marketing: SEO, Maps, and Reviews Support

Show CTA For Hospice Providers

If your hospice is not showing up where families search, you are leaving admissions on the table. We help clinician-led teams strengthen Google Maps visibility, generate reviews, and turn education into referrals. Call (877) 959-5849 or visit www.hospicecaremarketing.com

Schedule your free strategy session today.

#Hospice #HospiceCare #HospiceEligibility #Caregiving #PalliativeCare #NorthCounty #SanDiego #HealthcareLeadership #CensusGrowth #HospiceMarketing

Why This Episode Matters for Hospice Leaders

When families hesitate, your census suffers. In this episode, you’ll learn practical language and field-tested frameworks to move families from fear to clarity, earn clinician buy-in, and empower your team to follow through without getting “salesy.”

What You’ll Learn (At A Glance)

• Eligibility Vs. Readiness: How to guide families without pressure
• The “Hospice Bank Account” Analogy: A simple way to explain the Medicare benefit
• Demystifying Meds: Reframing morphine myths into quality days
• Clinician Education That Works: Micro-trainings and data points that earn buy-in
• Leadership & Growth: “Trust but verify,” ride-alongs, and operational follow-through

Episode Highlights & Takeaways

Understand Eligibility Vs. Readiness In Hospice Admissions

Families often say “We’re not ready.” Samuel shows you how to separate readiness (emotional) from eligibility (clinical) using questions, checklists, and empathetic phrasing so decisions feel confident, not coerced.

Use The Medicare “Hospice Bank Account” To Educate Families

Explain that the hospice benefit is something families have already paid into. This bank-account analogy makes coverage, DME, and supplies easy to grasp and reduces cost anxiety.

Replace fear-driven narratives with a clear plan for comfort and goals (e.g., attending a reunion, one last fishing trip). Families remember outcomes, not jargon.

Win Clinician Buy-In With Data And Follow-Up

Short, focused lunch-and-learns, readmission impact, and timely feedback loops help physicians and NPs recognize hospice-eligible patterns sooner and refer with confidence.

Lead Field Marketing with Trust and Accountability

“Trust but verify” your marketers. Ride along, remove operational blockers, and keep promises (equipment, supplies, weekend availability). Empowered teams deliver better experiences and more qualified referrals.

Guest Bio: Samuel Powell

With over 18 years in customer service and more than a decade in sales and marketing, I’ve dedicated my career to helping organizations strengthen their impact through leadership, compassion, and connection. Using both my professional experience and my personal experience, I am passionate about hospice teams and the way they can elevate their marketing, inspire their people, and create meaningful experiences for every family they serve.

Connect With Samuel:

Guest Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-powell-9628a6145/
• Company: https://www.powellmarketinginnovation.com/

Resources For Hospice Owners & Administrators

• Family Education Toolkit Ideas: Eligibility checklist, “bank account” one-pager, DNR explainer
• Clinician Micro-Training Topics: Eligibility indicators, readmission reduction, handoff scripts
• Field Marketing Framework: Visit cadence, value-based touchpoints, follow-up templates

Need More Qualified Hospice Referrals?

If your hospice isn’t showing up in Google’s Map Pack or you want more high-intent calls, our team can help, from Google Business Profile optimization and reviews to local SEO and conversion-focused websites.

Hospice Care Marketing (HCM): hospice-only expertise, full-funnel strategy, and results you can measure.

FAQ: Hospice Leadership & Marketing

Learn More

If you’re a hospice leader looking for strategies to better support families, let’s connect: Schedule a Free Strategy or call (877) 959-5849.

#hospicecaremarketing #HospiceLeadership #EndOfLifeCare #FamilySupport #HospiceMarketing #VoicesOfHospice

RN leader Ashleigh Lugar (Merrill Gardens) shares how “not matching energy,” empowering staff, and early hospice education turn high-emotion moments into better outcomes for residents and families plus the top 5 signs it’s time to consider hospice in assisted living.

Today’s guest is Ashleigh Lugar, RN, Regional Director of Health Services at Merrill Gardens. With 20 years in senior living and hospice, Ashleigh breaks down compassionate leadership, the difference between delegating and empowering, and how to reframe hospice as a layer of support, not a last resort. We cover simple language families understand, what makes a hospice a great partner to assisted living/memory care, and the top 5 indicators it’s time to talk hospice.

Resources mentioned: 

• Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves
• Merrill Gardens (senior living; Ashleigh supports TX, MS, AL regions)

Subscribe: Voice of Hospice Leadership Podcast

Contact: Hospice Care Marketing for websites, SEO, and growth for hospice providers

Connect with Asleigh & Her Work

• Learn more about Merrill Gardens: https://www.merrillgardens.com/
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-lugar-rn-391b04233

How This Episode Helps Hospice Professionals

Ashleigh Lugar, RN is Regional Director of Health Services at Merrill Gardens, supporting assisted living and memory care communities across Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama. She’s spent 20 years in senior living and hospice with a passion for leadership, education, and family support.

Learn More

If you’re a hospice leader looking for strategies to better support families, let’s connect: Schedule a Free Strategy or call (877) 959-5849.

#HospiceLeadership #AssistedLiving #MemoryCare #HospiceEducation #CompassionateCare #EmotionalIntelligence #HealthcareLeadership #EndOfLifeCare #HospiceSEO

Welcome to another episode of the Voices of Hospice Leadership Podcast. In this conversation, host Brian Frantz sits down with Kait McEwen, founder of Peaceful Passage, to explore how her work complements hospice services and provides families with much needed support during the end of life journey.

Kait brings a unique, non-medical perspective that focuses on advocacy, logistical planning, and guiding families through what can often feel overwhelming. She describes her role as “walking alongside hospice,” filling in the gaps that Medicare doesn’t cover and helping families navigate emotional and practical challenges.

Key Highlights from This Episode

• The Inspiration Behind Peaceful Passage: Kait shares how her career path led her into end of life support and why the work feels sacred.
• Collaborating with Hospice Teams: How she advocates for patients, supports families, and complements social workers and clinical staff.
• Common Family Challenges: From financial stress to emotional overwhelm, Kait explains how she brings structure to chaos.
• A Story That Inspired Her: Kait recalls a caregiving experience with a veteran that reaffirmed her mission to guide families into hospice care.
• Shifting the Conversation on Death: How she uses openness, mindfulness, and compassion to break through cultural taboos around dying.
• The Future of Peaceful Passage: Kait’s vision for keeping her work sacred and intimate while still expanding awareness and resources.

Connect with Kait & Her Work

• Learn more about Peaceful Passage and Kait’s support offerings: peacefulpassage.org
• Follow Kait’s journey and insights on Instagram: _peacefulpassage
• Connect on LinkedIn: Kait McEwen

How This Episode Helps Hospice Professionals

Hospice providers understand clinical and emotional complexity. Kait brings a unique lens, non-medical advocacy, empathetic logistics, and emotional grounding. Listening in, you’ll gain new ideas to strengthen caregiver and family support within your hospice offerings.

Learn More

If you’re a hospice leader looking for strategies to better support families, let’s connect: Schedule a Free Strategy or call (877) 959-5849.

In this episode of Voices of Hospice Leadership, Brian Frantz sits down with Sannie Lee, Area Director of Sales at Suncrest Care in Sacramento. Sannie shares how a “boots on the ground” approach—built on visibility, consistency, and a strong internal culture—has helped Suncrest stand out in a crowded market.

From avoiding “muffin marketing” to building real relationships with referral partners, Sannie dives into what it takes to grow hospice census the right way. Whether you're an owner, executive, or leader looking to scale your impact, this episode is packed with real-world insight from the front lines.

Topics Covered:

• The “Suncrest Difference” and what makes their care model unique
• Why consistency in referral relationships is everything
• The role of community events and local partnerships
• Building culture through intentional hiring
• Advice for hospice owners ready to grow

Tune in and discover why hospice is truly a place where the heart meets healthcare.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sannielee/

Interested in being a guest on the show? Reach out today!

_____________________________________ 

Get our book: https://www.hospicecaremarketing.com/book

Schedule your Leadflow Acceleration Session by going to https://www.hospicecaremarketing.com/schedule 

 _____________________________________ 

Connect with us: 

https://www.youtube.com/@hospicecaremarketing

https://www.facebook.com/hospicecaremarketing

https://x.com/HospiceCareMktg

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hospice-care-marketing/

https://www.instagram.com/hospicecaremarketing/ 

_____________________________________

#HospiceMarketing #Hospice #MarketingPlan #LeadGeneration #HospiceCareMarketing #LocalService #BusinessPlanning #GrowthStrategy

In this powerful episode of The Voices of Hospice Leadership, host Brian Frantz sits down with Keely Vacca, Hospice Administrator at Elara Caring, to explore the personal and professional journey that led her into hospice leadership. From early inspiration during nursing school to guiding teams through the challenges of end-of-life care, Keely shares what continues to drive her passion for this meaningful work.

Topics include:

• The emotional rewards and realities of hospice care
• Leadership insights from the front lines
• How to cultivate compassion and resilience in a demanding field

Whether you’re a seasoned provider or just beginning in hospice care, Keely’s perspective is one you won’t want to miss.

Tune in and discover why hospice is truly a place where the heart meets healthcare.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keely-vacca-msn-rn-9a0143102/ 

Interested in being a guest on the show? Reach out today!

_____________________________________ 

Get our book: https://www.hospicecaremarketing.com/book

Schedule your Leadflow Acceleration Session by going to https://www.hospicecaremarketing.com/schedule 

 _____________________________________ 

Connect with us: 

https://www.youtube.com/@hospicecaremarketing

https://www.facebook.com/hospicecaremarketing

https://x.com/HospiceCareMktg

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hospice-care-marketing/

https://www.instagram.com/hospicecaremarketing/ 

_____________________________________

#HospiceMarketing #Hospice #MarketingPlan #LeadGeneration #HospiceCareMarketing #LocalService #BusinessPlanning #GrowthStrategy

In our very first episode, host Brian Frantz sits down with Lisa Glynn, R.N., and Co-Founder of Golden Rule Hospice, to discuss what sets her hospice agency apart in the highly competitive Atlanta market. Lisa shares her journey in hospice care, the founding of Golden Rule Hospice, and how the company has grown over the past nine years.

They dive into the challenges of marketing hospice services, the power of online presence and reviews, and the importance of building strong relationships with families, patients, and referral partners. Lisa also shares the unique services Golden Rule Hospice offers, including their industry-leading patient retention, transitional care program, and commitment to maintaining a compassionate, dedicated team.

If you're a hospice provider looking to grow your business or a healthcare professional interested in the industry, this episode is packed with insights on branding, patient care, and the future of hospice.

Tune in to hear Lisa's inspiring story and learn how strategic marketing and a commitment to quality care can make a difference in the lives of patients and families.

https://goldenrulehospice.com/

https://www.facebook.com/goldenrulehospice/

Interested in being a guest on the show? Reach out today!

_____________________________________ 

Download our book: https://www.hospicecaremarketing.com/book

Schedule your Leadflow Acceleration Session by going to https://www.hospicecaremarketing.com/schedule 

 _____________________________________ 

Connect with us: 

https://www.youtube.com/@hospicecaremarketing

https://www.facebook.com/hospicecaremarketing

https://x.com/HospiceCareMktg

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hospice-care-marketing/

https://www.instagram.com/hospicecaremarketing/ 

_____________________________________

#HospiceMarketing #Hospice #MarketingPlan #LeadGeneration #HospiceCareMarketing #LocalService #BusinessPlanning #GrowthStrategy 

Welcome to the Voices of Hospice Leadership Podcast. Check out this episode to learn who we are, what you can expect from this podcast and why you should listen.