I would like to begin my review by stating that I do not usually leave reviews, but felt that it was necessary to do so to keep other families that are facing the decision of hospice care the anguish of dealing with Vitas during the last days of the life of a loved one.My 89 year old father was in need of hospice are and we called Vitas. The admission nurse and counselor came fairly quickly and were very good. Besides the nurse Mayelin that we dealt with who was great, it was very difficult to get in touch with anyone there. We needed additional sedation meds for my father and were not able to contact anyone because they were in staff meetings. People going through this process need to be able to contact someone immediately and this was not the case with Vitas. Dr. Gonzalez who came to evaluate my father was arrogant and one of the most uncaring physicians Ive ever dealt with. We asked questions and he would say I dont know.Suppl8ies were not readily available. Meds took long to obtain and everything was just difficult. Trying to get anyone to answer the phone youd have to wait for a long time to get someone to answer and then have to wait a long time to get a call back.Once my dads death was eminent, we asked for night care and they said they would send someone. They never sent anyone and we called at 2am and they just said sorry, we dont have anyone to send. Once my dad passed away at 4am we called and they sent a chaplain that had never done this sort of thing and did not know he had to stay until body was picked up and did not fill out and leave any paperwork, thus we needed to call vitas multiple times to get someone there to pronounce my dad deceased. Long story short, my deceased dads body was in the house for about 6 hours after he passed due to unprofessional, disorganization, and uncaring ways of vitas personnel.If you are needing Hospice are for a loved one, please spare yourself anguish and torment and check out hospice options for your loved ones. The last days of a loved ones life should be easy and with great support, which we did not receive at all with Vitas.An addendum: my dad had passed a few hours prior and I was already getting a call to pick up my dads hospital bed and other supplies. We made an appt for that and a family member waited 3 hours and they never came. They wanted to come the next 2 days and we told them NO due to funeral arrangements. We made another appt for pick up and they did not come in allotted time and now coming in afternoon as opposed to a.m. pick up. Vitas is the most incompetent service I have seen in a very long time. SPARE YOURSELEVES PLEASE AND DO NOT CONTACT VITAS FOR END OF LIFE CARE FOR A LOVED ONE!(I gave a 1 star because it was the least I was allowed to give.)

I was a vendor on premise almost a decade ago at their downtown Miami location. The company I worked for IST Management is substandard overall but Vitas is really a piece of work too. All that marketing about how they’re about compassionate care is bull. Their corporate location is riddled with the most brown nosing, backstabbing, neurotic people you can come across at a job. Everyday you had to watch every step you took as someone was looking to get you in trouble for something.As long as I have input in the matter no family member of mine will ever be entrusted to Vitas knowing who ultimately benefits from people’s end of life care.

Vitas is the worst place to work for in Northern VA! no wonder the turn over rate is extremely high, it is obvious that the senior general manager has no clue or what anyones job entails, except the managers. Managers will bully you to the point of breaking. Managers push their work on others. I can account a handful of times where upper management has assumed something and talked so rudely in an unprofessional manner when the situation didnt even call for it. A couple of managers are so abusive. That is why i left in September. Management could care less.. Only one person doing 4 to 5 people job without no help whatsoever I dont know if corporate doesnt care about their employees but something has to give. If you are currently interested in this office I advise you to run the other way because you will not get the proper treatment. This program is literally going down in drains and it seems like no one cares at all, if you have a problem dont even waste your time it will get swept under the rug or they will find a way to fire you.This office is very toxic and petty if you value your sanity stay away. Leaving this company was the best decision I made for my well being.My advice to corporate is you guys need to investigate upper management and see all that is swept under the rug, they withhold information from us to contact corporate.

1 Star is far too much to what they deserve. Horrible service, they are more concerned about selling you the Service than about your health.Its been 3 days since my dad is out of the Hospital and they havent delivered his medicines, putting my dads life in danger.They should be sued.

I also heard really horrible things from a really great nurse that took care of my baby. Vital is apparently terrible and doesnt care about patients or the staff.

I am writing this Review as my family’s testament and what we experienced, this does not necessarily mean it will be your outcome.My Brother R.Arguelles was placed in Vitas care Miami.At first Vitas provides very-comforting empathetic speaking for a family this is comforting. Thank you for that. However that is where it ends.My Sister was sent to get his Meds, this is unheard of considering one of the pain Meds was Morphine, then to there Pharmacy of choice. This is a Violation.One of the Nurses said that we needed to Provide personal close proximity equipment, my sister called me very emotionally crying and destroyed say she was on her way to purchase a Stethoscope Thermometer and blood pressure cup. I quickly called Vitas and they Said no to purchase them.Why did they put my family in this situation, while we have to deal with my brothers deteriorating Health.My brother was placed in continuous care and a 24 hr nurse to be buy his side.On yesterday’s shift change, the day nurse said that no Night nurse would be available.I quickly called the 24 service number, and they confirmed no Nurse available and that they do not Garenty that Nurses will be available,my brother had previously been given Morphine low dose for pain also his suction was broken and had to be replaced.After much discussion with the night service, and this is putting it in a controlled version of speaking, they found a Nurse an she arrived at 9 pm and would stay till 12amThe next Nurse arrived at 100 am and stayed till 7:00We are still waiting for the nebuelizer to arrive from 2 days ago.Don’t let this happen to your family member, think twice.Just because you had a previously good experience with another family member doesn’t mean it is still the same level of care.I will be filling a complaint with AHCA,Joint Commission and Medicare.H.Arguelles

Hello this is for the MANAGEMENT OF VITAS. I had enrolled my husband into your system of hospice care that unfortunately is not worth 5 pennies. They had advised me that i had to call the dispatch in case of an emergency with my husband. The first of august this year, around 8 oclock pm he was not feeling well. It took us an hour to get in touch with them and their answer was that the night nurse will call us. She called me on my cell phone to advise me that she lives in hialeah and will not be able to come to north miami beach where we do live. Why did she call me instead of advising the dispatch. I got really mad and immediately called 911, who was in our apartment within 5 minutes. Unfortunately my husband had an internal bleeding that provoked a heart attack. As i had signed a non resuscitation form with Vitas, i told fire rescue to let him pass away restfully. But fire rescue needed that form. It has been a battle with vitas dispatch to get that form and finally they did not find that form. My advise to you the MANAGEMENT is to have nurses dedicated to their jobs and please give back the form of non resuscitation back to the family. in case that they needed. I wish that no other family will go through what we did go through

The services they say they provide are minimal, forget getting respit, they will beat around the bush and not provide it as long as they can hold out, a lot of promises never delivered. When i requested to put my mom in a hospice facility they told me they had no beds. Stay away from VITAS any way you can!!!

Horrible service, never, never have this agency VITAS to take care of your family member, a lot of promises that was never delivered. Its with great sadness that my brother who is dying has to endure such an awful company service

Vitas is the ABSOLUTELY WORST company I have ever known!! If possible, I wouldnt even give you a 1 star rating! This is a VERY unorganized company! Under qualified staff! My mom suffered for 9 days before her death. It took FOUR days to get a doctor to come to our house! TWO of the nine days we didnt even have anyone scheduled to show up at our house! I-I-I, the daughter, administered medications to my mom the last FOUR days of her life - On the last day of my moms life, they sent a sitter out who was not even qualified to administer the medication! During the first 8 days, we had to provide our own supplies needed to take care of her! Yes, we called to get help and answers for all of the above problems, VERY LITTLE was done! The ONLY thing good from your company was from the volunteers who made the Memory Bears. I will NEVER recommend this company to anyone!!! -Tina Smith

Our mother passed away under the care of VITAS. They treated her how they would (I imagine) treat their own family member. They were compassionate and caring from start to finish and offer counseling/grief meetings (cant think of a better word) for the aftermath. They made one of the worst things that could happen as easy as it could be.They kept my mother comfortable until the end.

My mother was in the Waterbury, Connecticut facility at the end of September 2016 and unfortunately it was not a good experience. Patients and Family DO NOT come first and that is such a shame. I felt I had to argue with each Nurse/Aide that came in for the care that my Mother needed and deserved. Constantly correct the information that was being told to us by the Nurses vs. what we just discussed with my Mothers Doctor. We had to continuously press the button to ask for someone to come in and check on my Mother, request for more pain medicine, ask for them to re-position her in the bed. Why wasnt this commitment to caring automatically provided---not even the basics....that was unacceptable. I stayed with my Mother around the clock, because yes, I wanted to be with her, but also because I was afraid of what might happen to her if I was not there with her. When a patient is deemed to be kept in bed by her Doctor, and then advised by the Patients Family---why would you attempt to get her out of the bed to use the commode. My fear that night---my Mom is going to the Emergency Room because they dropped her, how am I going to explain that to my Dad, my sisters and my brother. One of your Values list Nurses are experts in assessing and managing pain and other symptoms that patients may experience as a result of a life limiting illness---I believe this needs to be explained again to the Staff in the Waterbury Office. My Mothers first night was horrible, she was so confused and tried for hours to get out of the bed----did they give her anything, no, I had to practically beg for something for her, after hours of watching her go through this ordeal. I will be expressing this in further detail to the main office in Hartford as well as the Corporate Office, in hopes that no Family will have to go through what we went through. It is hard enough to watch your loved ones die, they shouldnt have to be in discomfort as well. Hospice is suppose to be a comforting place, but it wasnt for our family.

Takes FOREVER to get anything done. Spent so much time on the phone with them for every single issue. They are disorganized and just a mess! The only positive thing was the stay at the UM facility (Miami, FL) where my beloved mothers life ended. She atleast left this world peacefully and without pain. The staff there was pretty good.But the outpatient services are a total mess. She passed on the 9th and Im STILL calling them trying to get them to pick up the bed and equipment. They barely ever showed up when I needed and even the supplies were problematic to obtain. Some of the staff was pretty good but some were useless.

I am only giving 3 stars because of the nurses and aides that did provide care while my father was living. Otherwise no stars should be given! The nurses and aides did their job that they were specifically assigned to do and were very polite and cordial. It clear they were very limited and if we wanted/needed more help we should get a home health care 9I would recommend). I have always been told how helpful hospice was to the family especially at the end of a loved one’s life. I was VERY disappointed in how everything was handled once my father passed. Apparently, communication on the weekends does not exist. He passed on a Sunday 6/25/17 the nurse came 3 ½ hours after we called three times (she was not given all of the information I provided and I spoke to at least two different people). If I had known what I know now, I probably would not choose Vistas as it was made very clear to my family and me that at the end of the day, we were just a number and once the patient was gone, the file was closed.

To Yoselyn, Angela , Felipe and all #teen114 thanks. you do really professional job with lots of human quality with our father Raul Lopez Perez. RIP.

My father was placed in Vitas Healthcare last year. I regret the decision my family and I made to admit him to Vitas. The RN on duty acted like he was too busy to answer my questions, and actually walked away from me. The Admission RN also was disingenuous about the care my Dad would receive. She even went so far as to lie to me and tell me that maybe hed be better tomorrow. They also promised me that he would be given a family suite during his stay. Well he passed away the very next day. Beware! Not the kind of care you would want for your loved one. They are pretty much heartless and in it for the money. Very bad.

Vitas Healthcare cares nothing about their employees safety that works in the field positions. As if making them work on Holidays isnt bad enough, we are currently in a tropical storm warning due to Hurricane Matthew and they are making them report to the office for a FULL WORKDAY! The skies are already ready to burst open and my loved one is in route to a job that is underpaid, unfair and careless. It is no surprise that I read such poor reviews about how they treat clients... they do not even treat their employees right; unless you work in the corporate offices. This company will not last long. UNACCEPTABLE VITAS!

Vitas had my dad transported home in an ambulance, they provided a hospital bed which was great. My dad qualified for Vitas Intensive Comfort Care (Continuous Care) program due to his Parkinsons. He had his gallbladder removed and was in the hospital for 2 weeks due to complications after his surgery. They had him transported home and provided 24/7 care by nurses and aides. They only provided the 24/7 care for 3 days and didnt give me any notice when their Nurse Lynn decided my dad no longer qualified for the 24/7 care. I didnt receive an explanation and his condition hadnt changed . She only said that it was 3 days and it was like time is up. She came to the house and took the scheduled nurse with her when she left at 10:45am. My dad and step mom live alone. My dad was confined to a bed. I was left scrambling to find someone to come to the house to care for my dad. It was an emotional and huge financial burden on me and she didnt listen or care. I would not recommend this program to anyone. Lynns team manager try to make it right and reassign another nurse to us but the damage was done. I still need 24/7 care for him and now thats costing me $20 an hour when Medicare was paying for it.

This is completely illegal company, which unloads narcotic painkillers through the fake quick self-certified small medical personnel positions, skipping doctors and prescriptions as paralyzing and murdering substances mixed together in no pain situations, so all of these negative health conditions patients would have related to symptoms of this illegal mishandled management of pharma without any of doctors presence. To set an example, not only morphine and heroine are addictive and life threatening, 400 mg of kodeine type a day is an alarm to come to an emergency. They rent wheelchair to not to take patient for a walk, eat and sleep and watch TV, but to avoid to bath, groom and feed patients and completely neglect medical devices. It is everyone right to ask the government officials to close this company and similar type.

I give them one star because there is no way to write this review with 0 - n.If you are looking to work here I advice to run on the opposite site.A man called Jerry and the IT director are a pair of morrons.Just because I am latin they laugh and was very rude on our interview while I was trying to make my self understable they was the opposite making non sense questions.Please try to get out as far as you can from there.Sorry for Kisha one of the recepcionist she was very nice.

Terrible experience , they offered comfort and really is the same to put to sleep

I can not say enough positive things about Vitas. Amazing people. Thank you !!

CAN SOME ONE PLEASE TELL THE NURSE THAT FLOMAX & FINASTERIDE OR NOT THE SAME MED FLOMAX IS TO RELAXES THE MUSCLES IN THE PROSTATE AND BLADDER NECK MAKING IT EASIER TO URINATE AND FINASTERIDE IS USED FOR ENLARGEMENT OF THE PROSTATE GLAND IN MEN THERE FORE A REDUCEDAMOUNT OF DIHYDYDROTOSTESTERONE IN THE PROSTATE CAUSES IT TO SHRINK I AM SO SAD THAT THE PATIENT OF MY CAN URINATE REG, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A DR. TO KNOW THAT .WHEN MEN HAVE PROSTEATE YOU HAVE TO TAKE TWO MEDS 1 IS FLOXAX ANDTHE OTHER ONE IS FINASTERIDI OR DOXASZOSIN SO NOW I HAVE TO CAME MY PATIET TO A DOCTOR I HOPE THE C E O OF VITAS READS THIS E-MAIL SINCERELY YOURS CAREING NURSE FOR OVER 20 YEARS OF NURESING REY

12/8/16The Palace Nursing Home (Miami)Vitas Hospice Care (Miami)Caballero Rivero Funeral Home (Sunset) MiamiReference: Gilda OgrodnikTo whom it may concern:This letter is a complaint to the bad and poor service that my mother Gilda Ogrodnik received from all of you after her passing.Today, Dec. 8, I called the funeral home to check on her ashes and they tell me that she has not being cremated yet (she passed on 11/17/16), because of the negligence of all parties involved. Dr Jimenez, from The Palace refused to sign her release, because she was under hospice with Vitas, Jose the nurse from The Palace did not tell the funeral home that she was under Vitas care. Nobody took the extra step to let the family know that there were issues with her release to be cremated.My conclusion is that nobody cares for old people, while they are alive and not even after death and no respect for the pain that my family is going through. I am just glad that she is with our Lord, definitely in a better place than this cold world.A few people need to be held accountable for this negligence and lack of humanity, besides, not being professional at all.Elizabeth Ogrodnik

I REGRET USING THEM --- did you like that surprise inspection by ACHA - WHERE YOU BROKE LAWS, RULES AND POLICIES ESPECIALLY THE CNA - MARLENE DENNIS. HOOKING UP THE BED CONTROLLER ONTO THE PATIENTS OXYGEN TUBE FOR A 3RD OCCASION... !!!THEY ARE THE WORST - BUNCH OF LIARS...INEPT - INCOMPETENT - DERELICT - I HAD A VERY TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE - WITH PAUL R - DIRECTOR IN S. FLTHAT I WILL NEVER! FORGET... YOU MIGHT FORGET ABOUT ME - BUT I WONT FORGET YOU - AND HOW ONE SIDED I WAS TREATED -YOU PAUL. R - ARE ONE OF THE MOST PATRONIZING - IMBECILES THAT I HAVE EVER SPOKEN TO.ZERO STARS - POS!!!MORE LATER... TBC...

Thank you all so much for proving others it is not just me again this company. Headquarters is worse than local offices. 2011-2012 to present 2016.It is such a shame that when someone comes to Vitas Headquarters with questions, about their Dallas, TX office that they are so afraid to answer them; it only makes them look as though they have something to hide. For a company that we did not CHOOSE, but was FORCED on us by the doctors office they have a hell of a lot of arrogance about them. When they present you with booklets or on-line material and a contract to sign, should they not be held accountable for everything THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO DO? How can they justify when NOT ONE NURSE ever gave my husband any morphine or any other sedating drugs, the need to have me give him morphine and other drugs every 1/2 hour and checking it off for the nurse. They wanted to have a weekend without being bothered and had me give him the medicine until the nurse returned on Monday. This is a fact with the Department of Aging and Disability Services. He was not dying quick enough in the four months and as we were told by a Vitas employee they had 85 patients to get to for the team that we had and there was not enough time to do all that was told to us that would be done. I have not heard of it being a normal procedure that after the patient dies while lying in one room, that the CHAPLAIN TAKES THE WIDOW to the bedroom instead of another room or even outside for fresh air. That again is a fact since there was another person who was told to stay behind with my husbands body. At the time, in the booklet it said that grief support would be given for 1 year, but 3 weeks after my husbands death, they walked away from me. A survey was sent and I gave them one hell of a bad review, so thick I had trouble closing the envelope, so then I was given a call by the supervisor of the Chaplains who barked orders at me like I COULD ONLY SPEAK WITH HIM, there would be NO PRAYERS, NO SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE, and NO GRIEF SUPPORT WHAT SO EVER. My husband had not yet been gone 6 months and the Christmas Holidays were now upon us and the supervisor Chaplain chastised another Chaplain for praying with me. I have gone through all the material that was given to us and the booklets, the contract and all on-line material and no where can I find where VITAS HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS about someones life after the patient had died, they had left me but later came back into my life after a BAD REVIEW, and yet that is exactly what the supervisor chaplain did. I had even at one point was ready to give them power of attorney because they were making decisions about my life and yet I was told they did not want that. I was also a bad person for asking them to join me in starting a foundation to help others, apparently they felt that was so terrible. At the time of your First major loss, your life is turned upside down, nothing makes any sense to you, you are so lost and looking for some guidance (asking GOD) and yet the actions that were done by these people who have dealt with death for ever were so unthinkable, disturbing, questionable, and down right unethical. I can not understand why the executives at the headquarters would rather dismiss me then clear a lot of things up and answer my questions. The truth needs to be told about Vitas, that everything they speak to you about, the material that is handed to you in booklets or on-line material, and even the contract that they will do everything that they say that they will do, and that you CAN NOT COUNT ON HEADQUARTERS helping you out when bad things happen and nothing is done right by one of their offices in another state. Everyone should have the right to investigate all hospices before signing on the dotted line and not be forced into anything by the doctors office. Your dying loved one and all the people left behind DESERVE THE VERY BEST, unfortunately that is far from what my husband and I got with Vitas Dallas Office and Vitas Headquarters. BE WARE OF THIS COMPANY.

TO ALL BEWARE!!For those with sick family members under vitas hospice care .The Day After returning from our wedding a vitas person stole a very valuable memoryjewlery wedding gift and Charlotte Haddocks has not been forthcoming with any information as I feel she is hiding info for the company.

Tried to get general information about my mother and found your nurse know as Sally, located in your office in San Antonio, TX on Fredericksburg Rd. , to be very rude and spoke to me as if I was a child or an idiot. She refused to pass me on to the Medical Director or Doctor despite my request.

My grandmother passed away in Feb. of 2011. The hospital she was at recommend Vitas Hospice Care when it became evident that her health would not improve. After some consideration we choose Vitas. I regret having chosen Vitas Healthcare. Vitas made the last days my family and I had with my grandmother more difficult and painful than those days already were.Most of the initial information we received from Vitas representatives was inaccurate and it quickly became obvious that Vitas was more interested in providing the cheapest possible care than in my grandmothers comfort or dignity.We were warned by some of the nurses and hospital staff that were not connected to Vitas that this would happen but the full extent of the bully treatment was surprising.Day 1: Vitas initially told us that my grandmother would not be moved from the comfort of the hospital setting she was in until she was completely stable and that the strong medications she was receiving to keep her pain-free would not be changed. We were also told that once she was stable she would be moved to a Vitas facility within a different hospital were she would be very comfortable and could stay for the remainder of her time. The first representative we met presented us pictures of the very comfortable and spacious Vitas facility. So we signed the papers turning grandmas care over from the hospital she was in to Vitas.Day 2: A doctor from the hospital tells us that my grandmother is not stable and should not be moved yet, hours later a vitas representative tells us that my grandmother will be moved the next day and that she will only be able to stay at the Vitas facility for 3 to 4 days, after that she will be moved to a Home where she would not receive the morphine she needed.My family and I were terribly disturbed by all these new claims. We began trying to make arrangements and trying to speak to someone at Vitas that could explain why all the initial plans had changed.From that point on it became a battle against Vitas to keep my grandmother comfortable and in dignified circumstances. Conversations with Vitas became a mix of apologies for poor service and rude representatives with constant questions about our willingness to move grandma in the next few hours regardless of her current condition.Grandma passed away before any moves had to be made.Vitas made a painful situation much worse. I recommend never using their services.

You killed my aunt muriel murray

THEY ARE KILLERS, LIARS, AND DONT CARE ABOUT PATIENTS OR FAMILY DONT USE THEM RUN AWAYTRIED TO KILL MY DAD WITH MORPHINEGO WITH TRUSTBRIDGE THEY CARE

Bad

The little girl from human recuse Doris is an inumana liar in anguish to the workers they threw a girl away from work I do not recommend it to anyone

In our case it was not effective. You need to raise your quality.

VITAS IS THE MOST POOR QUALITY HOSPICE IN FLORIDA, THANK GOD I SAID NURSES FOR MY DAD THAT THEY REQUEST FROM ANOTHER AGENCY WHEN THEY HAVE NO PERSONNEL I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE LEAVE YOUR FAMILY WITH VITAS IF YOU ARE NOT SUPERVISING HIM THE OPPOSITE IS THE MOST BAD SERVICE THAT THE PATIENT IS OFFERED TO THE TERMINAL STAGE, SINCERELY AHCA, I MUST REVIEW GOOD THIS COMPANY IS HORRIBLE, I CANT HELP SAY THAT I TUBE LPN, CNA, RN VERY PROFESSIONAL BUT 80% DO NOT SERVICE ANOTHER OPVE YOUR FAMILY THANKS.