By Daniel Casciato
Alexander Fernandez, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of VITAS Healthcare, brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the field of end-of-life care. With a strong background in healthcare financial management, Fernandez has taken on the challenge of optimizing financial performance and ensuring financial compliance at VITAS, one of the oldest and leading hospice providers in South Florida.
Fernandez’s decision to join VITAS earlier this year was driven by his passion for learning and embracing new challenges.
“I have always been a person who enjoys learning and new challenges,” Fernandez says. “When VITAS COO Joel Wherley approached me regarding the role, I began researching the organization and end-of-life care.”
Impressed by VITAS’ commitment to compassionate patient and family-centered care, Fernandez made the decision to transition from the acute care setting to the hospice industry. He recognized the exciting time in the industry with changes in alternative payment models, value-based care, and the projected growth of the hospice sector in the coming years.
Drawing on his extensive experience in healthcare financial management, Fernandez is poised to optimize VITAS’ financial performance and support its growth.
“Regardless of what aspect of healthcare I am managing, my overall approach has remained relatively consistent and ultimately led to successful outcomes,” Fernandez explains.
His approach begins with listening, learning, and building relationships within the organization. Fernandez aims to identify opportunities, implement tighter internal controls, provide tools and education to frontline leaders, and challenge the status quo to create a financial culture of performance and accountability.
As CFO, Fernandez plans to strengthen the financial infrastructure at VITAS to support the company’s growth. His focus is on establishing tools to evaluate and model different opportunities, ensuring the organization is financially prepared to react to any presented opportunity. Fernandez aims to foster financial readiness, enabling VITAS to be nimble and react quickly.
To deepen operational finance and deliver valuable insights, Fernandez emphasizes the importance of focusing on fundamentals. This includes gaining a thorough understanding of the organization’s revenue sources and cost structure. Fernandez also emphasizes the need to align financial objectives with operational goals, providing appropriate financial tools and understanding to drive performance. Central to this financial culture is ensuring that patient care remains a top priority and that ethical decision-making guides all financial endeavors.
Fernandez’s involvement on various boards and advisory groups within the healthcare industry provides valuable insights that inform his work at VITAS. “The healthcare industry, particularly in South Florida, is a small world, and while many of us change positions and employers, our relationships and reputation stick with us,” Fernandez notes. “I have learned more about compassionate patient and family centered end-of-life care in the last three months than I learned in 20-plus years in the acute care space.”
He recognizes the importance of building relationships and leveraging his reputation to promote compassionate patient and family-centered end-of-life care. Fernandez is deeply impressed by VITAS’ commitment to its mission and values, and he aims to help more individuals understand the power of the hospice benefit and the significance of partnering with the right hospice provider.
As Fernandez joins VITAS at a pivotal time in its 40-plus year history, he envisions a future where the organization becomes the premier provider of patient and family-centered end-of-life care across all markets.
Fernandez shares the vision of VITAS President and CEO Nick Westfall, stating, “I am in full alignment with our CEO’s vision for the future of this organization.” Fernandez is determined to contribute his expertise and help VITAS achieve its mission of providing high-quality end-of-life care to more people nationwide.
Fernandez’s expertise in healthcare financial management, combined with his genuine commitment to compassionate patient care, positions him as a valuable asset to VITAS. As he continues to navigate the hospice industry and optimize financial performance, he is dedicated to making a lasting impact on the lives of patients and families during one of life’s most challenging times.
For more information about VITAS Healthcare, please visit www.vitas.com.