PINEHURST, N.C – FirstHealth Hospice was recognized for the third consecutive year by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall caregiver and family experience score ranking in the top 20% of all eligible SHP clients nationwide.
FirstHealth Hospice is among six hospice organizations in North Carolina earning a spot on the SHP list and the only one in the Sandhills.
Recognized for Excellence in Hospice Care
The annual SHPBest™ award program acknowledges hospice providers that consistently provide high quality service to families and caregivers of patients receiving hospice care. Award recipients for 2025 were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Hospice caregiver experience scores for more than 1,800 hospice providers across the country.
“Receiving the SHPBest™ award for the third year in a row is a meaningful achievement for our team,” said Tina Gibbs, LCSW, director of FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care. “This recognition highlights the extraordinary care and support our staff provides to patients and their loved ones during some of life’s most challenging times. Being recognized among the top hospice organizations in the country motivates us to continue striving for excellence.”
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice is a specialized approach to care that focuses on providing comfort, dignity and quality of life for individuals who have a life-limiting illness and no longer seek curative treatment. Hospice care addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients while also offering support, education and counseling to family members and caregivers.
A Long History of Hospice Care in the Sandhills
In 1980, a group of Moore County volunteers led by oncologist David Allen, M.D., started Sandhills Hospice with a commitment to support the needs of people approaching the end of life and their families. Sandhills Hospice joined FirstHealth of the Carolinas in 1996 and today is the only not-for-profit hospice headquartered in Moore County.
“FirstHealth of the Carolinas is committed to caring for people in all stages of life,” said Mickey Foster, CEO of FirstHealth. “We are proud of our hospice team for maintaining their rank among the nation’s best providers of end-of-life care.”
More about the SHPBest awards program, including methodology and award recipient lists, is available online.
