A Message from ToniAnn Marchione – President & CEO

Dear Friends and Supporters, 

As I begin my second year as President & CEO, I remain honored to lead this outstanding organization.  I’d like to share some background about me as well as a perspective of hospice care and where Regional Hospice is headed in the future.  

A Passion for Healthcare

With more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, I am driven by a passion for compassionate care and strategic organizational growth. Prior to joining Regional Hospice, I served as the CEO of Danbury Radiological Associates, where I spearheaded strategic management initiatives across six independent imaging centers in Connecticut. My tenure there allowed me to cultivate alliances with major health systems like Nuvance Health and Hartford Healthcare, enhancing access to quality care for communities across the state.

Prior to Danbury Radiological Associates, I was Executive Director of ancillary services at Western Connecticut Health Network (now Nuvance Health) for 11 years, where I had oversight of inpatient and outpatient imaging and laboratory medicine.  I also had a major role in the integration process throughout the mergers with New Milford and Norwalk Hospitals.

Before joining Regional Hospice as Chief Health Operations & Compliance Officer in 2021. I volunteered as a Reiki practitioner at the organization – an experience that deepened my understanding of our mission. I witnessed firsthand the profound impact of our holistic approach to hospice care, which emphasizes meaningful connections and expert care at the end of life for patients and their loved ones.  

My mother was admitted to our inpatient Center for Comfort Care & Healing in Danbury in 2022 and I can attest to the exceptional level of care we provide.  Throughout her stay, my mom, my family and I experienced love, peace, and comfort at a very sad and challenging time. 

A Challenging Environment

As with all healthcare organizations today, the hospice industry is facing significant challenges in meeting the growing demand for end-of-life care services. An aging population means more people will require hospice support in the coming years. However, hospices are struggling with workforce shortages, particularly in hiring enough nurses and home health aides. Reimbursement rates from government programs like Medicare have failed to keep up with rising costs. Regulatory and paperwork burdens continue increasing as well. Hospices are also working to adapt and enhance services to meet the diverse cultural needs of the communities they serve. Despite these hurdles, our team is committed to providing the highest quality, most loving care to patients of all ages with terminal illness, and their loved ones.

A Focus on the Future

In addition to our commitment to adult hospice care, we are also dedicated to expanding our community pediatric program. We recognize the importance of caring for our youngest patients with the same level of compassion and expertise as our adult patients. Therefore, we are actively working to grow and enhance our community pediatric services to ensure that children and their families receive the care they need in their homes.

I am deeply committed to advancing the field of hospice and palliative care, serving on various advisory councils and committees such as the Palliative Care Advisory Council, the CT Coalition for Pediatric Palliative Care and the Connecticut Council for Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Programming.  These roles allow me to advocate for the needs of our patients and families on a broader scale, ensuring that everyone has access to end-of-life care, regardless of age or diagnosis.

Your kindness and commitment allow us to continue to do this sacred and unique work!  Every gift we receive supports the care of adults and children and the bereavement services provided at no cost to their loved ones and others in our community.  As a nonprofit hospice care provider, your support is not only deeply appreciated, it is vital to our mission. 

As we continue on this journey together, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your continued generosity.  You make it possible for us to make a difference in the lives of those we serve, and for that, we are grateful.

With sincere appreciation,

ToniAnn Marchione
President & CEO