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Big Bend Hospice is extending its reach into rural Northwest Florida

Big Bend Hospice/used with permission

Tallahassee's non-profit hospice has announced a major expansion into the rural counties to the west of its present service area.

Big Bend Hospice CEO Bill Wertman says the organization is gearing up to provide services to Jackson, Calhoun and Gulf counties, in addition to the 8-county region it already serves. So more hiring is underway.

"In order for us to provide services in these new counties, we have to have additional staffing, which includes our nurses, our CNAs, chaplains, social workers, and a physician, to insure that we're able to provide the standard of care that we're known for."

Wertman says Medicare and Medicaid continue to provide the primary support for the organization's services, which is making the expansion possible.

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Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories. here.