FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Kal Mistry, Chief Administrative Officer/Senior Vice President
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®, 305.350.5990
Megan Carella, APR, Public Relations Editor
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®, 352.560.3415
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®
Appoints Schmidt Director of Market Development
Columbus, Ohio, May 4, 2010 —Crystal Schmidt, of Lewis Center, has been appointed Director of Market Development for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of Columbus, which provides care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families in those counties. In this role, Schmidt recruits, trains and mentors VITAS representatives in educating physicians and other healthcare professionals in hospitals, assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities about hospice and end-of-life care issues. She also represents VITAS in the community, at churches and civic organizations.
VITAS, the nation’s leading hospice provider, is now serving patients with life-limiting diagnoses and their families in Central Ohio, including those in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties.
Schmidt brings hospice and healthcare marketing and business development experience to her new role. Prior to joining VITAS, she served as director of business development for a home care and hospice organization and, before that, as director of marketing and community relations for a senior living facility in Columbus.
“Crystal brings a wealth of knowledge regarding hospice services and an abundance of energy to the VITAS program in Columbus,” says Janet Snapp, RN, MSN, OCN, CHPN, FPCN, VITAS general manager. “She is a dedicated professional with a commitment to ensure access to hospice services for all eligible individuals in our service area.”
Schmidt earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. She is a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk Committee, the Healthcare Marketing Networking Organization, and Moving Forward with Seniors.
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®, a pioneer and leader in the hospice movement since 1978, is one of the nation’s largest providers of end-of-life care. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS (pronounced VEE-tahs) operates 45 hospice programs in 16 states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin). VITAS employs 9,702 professionals who care for terminally ill patients daily, primarily in the patients’ homes, but also in the company’s 30 inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities/residential care facilities for the elderly. At the conclusion of the Fourth quarter of 2009, VITAS reported an average daily census of 12,322. Visit www.vitas.com.
Listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: VITAS Healthcare and Roto-Rooter.
Photo: Crystal Schmidt
