Cain
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana has named Stephanie Cain as successor to outgoing president, Laura Leonard who announced her retirement earlier this year.
“Stephanie is strategic operational leader with a proven track record. She has 15 years’ experience in the health care industry and brings her expertise in home health and hospice,” said Our Hospice Board President Tom Dowd. The board is very excited to welcome a seasoned professional who can lead Our Hospice and Palliative Care into the future.”
Cain joins Our Hospice from her role as the Statewide Director of Hospice for Indiana University Health, serving 39 counties and 16 hospitals across the state, including a 12-bed inpatient unit in Bloomington. She has previous experience in home health with Trinity Healthcare and Advocate Home Health Services. Stephanie received a master of science in health administration (MHA) and a master of business administration (MBA) from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois.
In 2013, Leonard succeeded Our Hospice founder, Sandy Carmichael, who led the local hospice organization from its inception in 1980.
During Leonard’s tenure, the number of patients served grew from 1,100 each year to more than 1,450, and staffing increased from 148 employees to 170.
Leonard launched palliative care as a new medical specialty for hospice in 2019, which is serving more than 350 patients currently. She also led efforts to expand bereavement care service to children’s groups.
An endowment for future sustainability of unfunded or underfunded services, including palliative care, bereavement care and the hospice center, was also established during Leonard’s tenure.
“Under Laura’s guidance, the organization has grown in many ways. She spearheaded the increase in the number of patients cared for, and also increased philanthropic support of our local hospice. By far, her greatest achievements include, the launching of Palliative Care, a service that is a critical need in the post-acute health continuum of care; and achieving a “no deficiencies or non-compliance” in two consecutive state and federal surveys. Launching a service line that receives only 14-17 cents on the dollar in reimbursement was a challenge, but she relentlessly drove toward the vision of bringing palliative care to our community. The “clean” surveys of 2019 and 2022 demonstrate her unwavering pursuit of excellence. We will miss her, but she leaves Our Hospice and Palliative Care in a great position for the future and we wish her well in her retirement,” Dowd said.
Cain joined the organization on Nov. 15 and will assume leadership of hospice upon Leonard’s retirement on Dec. 31.
