Why VITAS enhanced its mobile app — and what it means for hospice care

The VITAS mobile app is a free, dedicated healthcare tool designed to simplify the referral process and provide the most up-to-date hospice information. Available on iPhone, iPad and Android, the app enables clinicians to submit secure referrals, track referral status, assess hospice eligibility using the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) and access on-demand clinical education, all from a single mobile device.

At VITAS Healthcare, the development of this app was driven by a single, urgent insight: The friction in the hospice referral process has long cost patients and families precious time. The VITAS app and the latest enhancements are our direct response to that problem.

Why are hospice referrals so often delayed?

Late hospice referrals are one of the most persistent challenges in end-of-life care. Patients arrive too close to the end of life to benefit fully from hospice's core offerings — pain management, emotional support, family counseling and care coordination that reduces unnecessary hospitalizations.

We needed to meet clinicians where they are — not where it's convenient for us.-Patrick Hale, VITAS CIO

The reasons are well-documented and complex: prognostic uncertainty, workflow interruptions and limited access to eligibility tools at the point of care. But a common thread runs through all of them. Clinicians need better, faster and more accessible support precisely when and where decisions are being made.

VITAS Chief Information Officer Patrick Hale framed the imperative clearly during the app's internal development process: "We needed to meet clinicians where they are — not where it's convenient for us." That principle shaped every feature decision.

The mobile app’s latest enhancements streamline referrals and provide a scalable architecture that allows us to add new functionality.

What does the VITAS app do for healthcare professionals?

The VITAS app was designed primarily for clinicians — physicians, nurses, discharge planners and social workers who work with patients facing advanced illness. It does not replace professional clinical judgment, but it removes the logistical barriers that slow the referral process down.

How can clinicians submit and track hospice referrals from a mobile device?

Clinicians can submit secure patient referrals directly from their Apple or Android device. Once submitted, they receive confirmation that the referral was received and an update when it is processed, indicating that the admissions team will be contacting the patient or family to schedule an appointment.

For discharge planners managing high patient volumes, this level of visibility matters. Knowing a referral is actively being processed — and when — enables more confident care transitions and reduces the administrative back-and-forth that delays admissions.

How does the VITAS app help determine hospice eligibility?

The VITAS app includes the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS), a validated clinical tool that helps clinicians quantify hospice eligibility for patients with advanced illness. For physicians and nurses who face uncertainty about whether a patient qualifies for hospice care, the PPS provides a structured, evidence-based framework for that assessment.

A built-in location finder is also integrated, making it easier to connect patients with the appropriate VITAS care team in their region.

What clinical education does the app provide?

The app gives clinicians access to a library of educational videos, clinician-written articles and free webinars covering a wide range of end-of-life care topics. Whether a social worker needs a resource to share with a grieving family or a physician wants a refresher on prognostic indicators, the content is available whenever and wherever it is needed.

VITAS Chief Medical Officer Joseph Shega, MD, has been direct about the role of education in driving earlier referrals: "When clinicians have the right information at the right moment, they make better decisions for their patients. The app puts that information in their pocket."

How does the VITAS app support patients and families?

The VITAS app's value extends beyond the clinical team. Families navigating a loved one's serious illness often don't know what hospice care involves, when to ask for it or how to request a consultation. That uncertainty leads to delays — sometimes critical ones.

The VITAS app provides families with clear, compassionate information about hospice care: what it is, what it isn't and how it can improve quality of life and comfort during a difficult time. Videos and articles developed by VITAS clinicians are presented in plain language, helping families feel informed rather than overwhelmed.

Families can also use the app to request a hospice consultation or referral directly, reducing their dependence on intermediaries when time is most limited.

What results has the VITAS app produced?

The release of the enhanced VITAS app showed strong engagement. Referral activity has grown among clinicians who have adopted the app as part of their daily workflow. More telling is the retention data: users are returning to the app consistently, at rates that outperform our legacy application.

When clinicians have the right information at the right moment, they make better decisions for their patients.-Joseph Shega, MD, VITAS CMO

Higher retention indicates that clinicians are finding the VITAS app genuinely useful, not just novel. When a discharge planner or physician opens the app repeatedly throughout their week, it signals that the tool has integrated into their workflow, which is precisely what VITAS built it to do.

The app is also configurable. Clinicians can personalize their homepage based on role, interests and preferences. A nurse case manager and an oncologist have different information needs; the VITAS app adapts accordingly. VITAS attributes part of the stronger engagement numbers to this role-based customization.

What's next for the VITAS mobile app?

Phase 1 of the VITAS app enhancements established the foundational infrastructure: secure referrals, tracking, hospice eligibility tools and clinical education. Phase 2 will deepen clinical utility and expand the app's reach.

Planned enhancements include richer EHR integration, expanded eligibility guidance for disease-specific patient populations and enhanced communication tools that keep referring clinicians better informed throughout the care journey. VITAS is also exploring features that support the families of patients already receiving VITAS hospice care.

The goal throughout has remained consistent: reduce the distance between a clinician's concern for a patient and the moment that patient receives the care they need.