Ancora Compassionate Care highlights national recognitions and local services

Ancora Compassionate Care representatives told an audience that their organization, which began as Hospice of Rockingham County in 1987 and rebranded in 2023, has grown to nearly 100 employees while preserving local roots.

Teresa Towns (HR), Flavio Collins (Marketing) and Jean Slayton (Growth Team) described the practices that earned Ancora national recognition: an employer assessment and employee survey conducted by Modern Healthcare placed Ancora among the top ranked 'Best Places to Work' in health care (the organization said it ranked No. 3 nationally in the most recent list). Ancora also reported a five‑star Medicare rating and said that high employee engagement translates to more consistent bedside care.

Speakers described intentional internal practices — peer recognition, attention to employee well-being, and mission-driven hiring — that they say improve retention and create better patient outcomes. Jean Slayton described frequent, proactive outreach to referral partners and families and said she can often demonstrate quality metrics (for example, very high percentages of visits late in life) to reassure partners and patients.

Ancora emphasized local service lines (end-of-life care, serious-illness care and counseling) and community programs (a resale shop and fundraising events) that subsidize care for uninsured or underinsured residents. The organization urged residents to ask for Ancora by name when seeking hospice or serious-illness support.

The interview-style session concluded with a discussion of marketing the organization’s quality metrics, how local roots strengthen referrals, and examples of families and providers reporting satisfaction with Ancora’s services.