Washington, DC: February 28, 2007—Timothy Johnson has been named General Manager of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of Greater Washington, serving patients living in Washington, D.C. As general manager, Johnson will oversee all aspects of VITAS in the District of Columbia.

“I’m looking for VITAS to become a center of comfort for patients at the end of life,” said Johnson. “We want to provide access to care for everyone, especially those in the underserved communities east of the Anacostia River. One of the best aspects of my job is that I actually have the time and opportunity to make a difference.”

With more than 15 years of experience in patient care and senior management, Johnson brings a record of accomplishment and commitment to hospice care. He served as executive director at the Shoreline HealthCare/Grant Park Care Center in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for managing day-to-day operations of a 300-patient nursing home. Previously, Johnson was an administrator at the Culpeper Health & Rehabilitation Center (a Medical Facilities of America Healthcare Center), where he focused on improving profitability.

Early in his career, Johnson was the executive director of Beverly Healthcare-Northwest Healthcare Center where he fostered partnerships with local community businesses, government agencies, and other healthcare providers in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Johnson is also a gubernatorial appointee on the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators and has served two terms in this role.

Johnson received a B.S. in Business Administration from Delaware State University, and is currently pursuing an M.B.A/M.S. in Health Administration at Central Michigan University in Washington, D.C.

About Hospice
Because hospice is not a “place” as many believe, VITAS caregivers make visits throughout the community to care for patients in their own home, in nursing homes, and in assisted living communities. Hospice is provided in the home to better provide comfort, pain control and symptom management for a patient at the end of life. In fact, recent research published by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization found that most Americans would prefer to receive end-of-life care at home and think hospice professionals are the most knowledgeable in helping them do so.