By Kathleen Coronado

In South Florida, hurricane preparedness is a part of life. Hospitals activate emergency operations centers, nursing homes review evacuation plans, and families rush to gather supplies before a storm makes landfall.

For hospice providers, preparedness carries an additional layer of responsibility. Patients receiving end-of-life care are among the most medically vulnerable members of our communities. Many rely on oxygen, medications, specialized equipment or around-the-clock support that cannot simply pause when severe weather arrives.

At VITAS Healthcare, hurricane preparedness is not a seasonal checklist. It is a year-round operational priority designed to ensure continuity of compassionate care before, during and after a disaster.

Preparing before the storm

Disaster planning in hospice begins long before a hurricane enters the forecast cone.

Each patient has individualized emergency planning incorporated into their care. Clinical teams identify factors that may place patients at greater risk during a storm, including oxygen dependency, limited mobility, cognitive impairment or caregiver challenges at home.

Hospice teams also work closely with families to review evacuation plans, medication access and emergency contacts. In many cases, these conversations bring peace of mind to caregivers who may already feel overwhelmed managing serious illness during hurricane season.

Preparation also includes coordination across multiple operational areas, including:

• Clinical teams
• Telecare services
• Pharmacy support
• Home medical equipment
• Information technology
• Transportation and logistics

This level of coordination becomes especially important in South Florida, where storms can impact multiple counties simultaneously and strain healthcare resources across the region.

Hospice’s role in healthcare continuity

When hurricanes threaten Florida, much of the public conversation centers around hospitals and emergency rooms. Those facilities play a critical role, but hospice providers also serve an essential function in maintaining healthcare continuity throughout a disaster.

By proactively supporting seriously ill patients at home, hospice organizations can help reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalizations during already stressful conditions.

At the same time, hospice teams coordinate closely with hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living communities and physicians to ensure patients continue receiving appropriate symptom management and support as care settings shift during a storm.

This collaboration becomes especially important after landfall, when healthcare systems are managing power outages, transportation disruptions and increased patient needs throughout the community.

Lessons from past storms

South Florida healthcare providers have learned valuable lessons from storms such as Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Ian.

One of the most important lessons is the value of communication. During a disaster, patients and families need reassurance that their care team remains accessible, informed and prepared to respond as conditions evolve.

Another lesson is the importance of flexibility. Hurricanes rarely follow predictable paths, and operational plans must adapt quickly to changing conditions.

At VITAS, emergency preparedness efforts include ongoing communication between leadership teams, clinicians and supporting departments to monitor patient needs, staffing availability, community conditions and everyone’s safety throughout a storm event.

With a footprint across Florida, VITAS teams can support communities experiencing greater storm impact by sharing resources and personnel from less affected areas. Strong relationships with healthcare providers, community organizations and local partners also help strengthen mutual aid and coordinated response efforts before and after a storm.

Compassion during crisis

Disaster preparedness in hospice is ultimately about more than logistics. It is preserving comfort and dignity during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.

For families caring for a loved one at the end of life, the uncertainty of an approaching hurricane can intensify fear and stress. Knowing they have a healthcare team helping guide them through preparation and remaining connected throughout the storm can make a meaningful difference.

In South Florida, hurricanes are inevitable. Healthcare organizations across the continuum must continue strengthening collaboration, communication and preparedness strategies that protect vulnerable patients when disasters occur.

Hospice providers are an important part of that effort. Carefully planned and coordinated operations combined with compassionate care help ensure patients and families receive the support they need when they need it most.

Kathleen Coronado is vice president of VITAS hospice operations in South Florida. VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care. Learn more at VITAS.com.