SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VistaCare, Inc. has named Todd Cote, MD, age 45, to the role of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Cote, who most recently served as Chief Medical Officer for The Connecticut Hospice, Inc., clinical instructor for the Yale School of Medicine, and associate clinical professor for the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, will assume his new duties at VistaCare on Jan. 3, 2006.
In this role, Dr. Cote is responsible for the medical leadership of VistaCare’s hospice operations, including more than 100 program and area medical directors and the daily care of more than 5,400 patients.
“Todd brings a level of experience, innovation, and passion that will help round out our leadership team and bring the clinical depth we need to excel as one of the country’s preeminent end-of-life care providers,” said David Elliot, President and Chief Operating Officer. “When we first started our search for a Chief Medical Officer, we knew we needed someone whose knowledge could challenge us, whose leadership could guide us, and whose vision could help us build the kind of company that our evolving industry needs us to be. We feel exceptionally fortunate to have found someone as dynamic, committed, and talented as Todd.”
Prior to his tenure as Chief Medical Officer of The Connecticut Hospice, Inc., Dr. Cote served in physician leadership roles with Assisted Home Hospice, VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, and Kern Hospice, all in California. Following his medical school education at St. Louis University and residency training with Kern Medical Center, Dr. Cote spent 11 years as a family practice physician and was honored as California Family Physician of the Year in 1995. He is board-certified in both Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Family Practice.
Dr. Cote also has served on the Yale Bioethics Institute End of Life Care Advisory Board, as a member of both the Yale Bioethics End of Life Research Committee and the End of Life Discussion Group, as Chairman of the Connecticut Palliative Physicians Group, and as President of the Kern County Medical Society. He is a published author and accomplished speaker on a wide variety of end-of-life care issues. Dr. Cote holds his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of San Diego.
“Serving as the Chief Medical Officer for an organization with locations in 14 states and such tremendous ambition and vision is an incredible challenge -- and that’s what makes this such a tremendous opportunity for me,” Dr. Cote said. “In my discussions with my new colleagues at VistaCare, I found real passion and a commitment to doing the right thing as the barometer for each business decision. As a physician, I value that kind of professional integrity and look forward to working with my fellow physicians to continue building on an already solid foundation.”
Dr. Cote will report directly to David Elliot and will work as part of the company’s Executive Leadership Team.
About VistaCare
VistaCare is a leading provider of hospice services in the United States with programs in 14 states. Through interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, home healthcare aides, social workers, spiritual and other counselors and volunteers, VistaCare provides care primarily designed to reduce pain and enhance the quality of life of patients facing life-limiting illness, most commonly in the patient’s home or other residence of choice. For more information, or to learn more about VistaCare, call 1-866-VISTACARE or visit www.VistaCare.com .
Company Contact: Investor Contacts: Media Contacts: Rick Slager Doug Sherk Steve DiMattia Chairman and CEO Jennifer Beugelmans EVC Group 480-648-4545 EVC Group 415-896-6820 ir@vistacare.com 415-896-6820 sdimattia@evcgroup.comdsherk@evcgroup.com
VistaCare, Inc.
CONTACT: Rick Slager, Chairman and CEO of VistaCare, +1-480-648-4545,ir@vistacare.com; or investors, Doug Sherk, dsherk@evcgroup.com, orJennifer Beugelmans, or media, Steve DiMattia, sdimattia@evcgroup.com, allof EVC Group, +1-415-896-6820, for VistaCare, Inc.
Web site: http://www.vistacare.com/
