Mission Healthcare Appoints New Hospice Executive Director

SAN DIEGO (March 27, 2013)—Mission Healthcare, which offers medical and non-medical services in the home through its three service lines: Mission Home Health, Mission Home Care and Mission Hospice, announces Laura Semmler, RN, BSN, MBA as Executive Director of the new hospice service-line, which launched March 11.

Laura Semmler brings 27 years of experience as executive director to lead hospice team

“Laura’s extensive experience in palliative care makes her an excellent leader as Executive Director of Mission Hospice,” said Jennifer Robinson, director and co-founder of Mission Healthcare. “Her nursing and leadership skills contribute to her visionary approach for our new service line.”

Semmler has a varied background in nursing spanning the last 27 years, and has lived and practiced nursing and leadership in eight states. She earned her MBA with the intention of leading a team of hospice professionals in providing the best care possible. She has more than seven years of hospice experience, which includes starting as a field case manager and transitioning to executive leadership.

Semmler has practical long-term care knowledge that comes from her time as director of nursing for four years.  As director of nursing she managed the entire nursing staff, the education department, orientation for new hires and the budget.

Semmler specialized in emergency room and intensive care nursing during her 15 years of hospital based clinical experience. In an effort to maintain her clinical competence and an understanding of family dynamics while caring for sick patients, she currently works per diem at UCSD hospital. In her free time Semmler enjoys running half marathons and spending time with her three children. 

Mission Hospice was accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) and has spent the past two years building a foundation of utmost compassion and compliance. Out of 3,000 surveys that CHAP conducted nationwide, Mission Hospice ranked number one.

“One of our most significant differentiators is our focused dedication to the first 48 hours of care, which is a crucial time for the family to feel supported,” said Semmler. “This is the time that families realize things are going to be different and it’s important to be one hundred percent available and to ensure they are comforted during this transition.”

A rigorous evaluation by CHAP focuses on structure, function, quality of services, products, long term viability and human and financial resources. To receive accreditation, hospices have to admit at least five patients and cover the cost of the patients’ care—Mission went above and beyond and treated 19 patients.

While operating within compliance, Mission partners with each family and their unique needs. From Mission Hospice’s first encounter, the staff honors the unique physical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs of each person. Mission provides the highest level of courtesy, gallantry and service to patients, their families, caregivers, visitors and to each other.

About Mission Hospice:

Mission Hospice provides palliative hospice care for the terminally ill that helps manage pain and provides support for the patient and family. We provide a compassionate, integrative, holistic approach to health care that specifically addresses the physical, emotional, educational, cultural, and spiritual needs of each patient, their family and caregivers when healing measures may no longer be an option. Our vision is of a community in which people-in-transition and those who love and support them have access to proper palliative care and support when they need it, wherever they need it and whoever they are. 

About Mission Healthcare:

Mission Healthcare is a clinically owned and operated organization whose services include Mission Home Health, Mission Hospice, and Mission Home Care.  By providing a continuum and continuity of care, Mission Healthcare strives to have a positive impact on the lives of patients, their families, and their healthcare partners no matter what their needs may be. Mission Healthcare utilizes all available resources to provide their patients the highest level of care possible, all while in the optimal healing environment, the home.