By Bill Wertman, CEO, Big Bend Hospice
For almost 45 years, Big Bend Hospice has had one mission: to provide compassionate, expert care to patients and families when they need it most.
That mission has never been defined by county lines.
It has always been about people.
Last week, we celebrated an exciting milestone as we officially expanded our services in Panama City with a ribbon-cutting alongside the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce. While the event marked the beginning of a new chapter for Big Bend Hospice, it represented something far more important for the families of Bay County.
It means they now have another choice for hospice care.
Over the past several years, we have continued expanding throughout Northwest Florida, bringing hospice and palliative care to rural and underserved communities that deserve access to high-quality, compassionate care close to home. As we listened to healthcare partners and community leaders throughout Bay County, it became clear there was an opportunity to extend that same commitment here.
Not because we were looking to grow for the sake of growth. Nothing wrong with that.
But because every family deserves access to exceptional hospice care delivered with dignity, compassion, and respect.
That belief has guided Big Bend Hospice since our founding more than four decades ago.
Throughout those 45 years, we have cared for tens of thousands of patients across North Florida. We have grown alongside the communities we serve, expanding programs, adding services, and finding new ways to meet people where they are. But one thing has never changed: our commitment to putting patients and families first.
That commitment is what we are bringing to Bay County.
When someone chooses hospice, they are not simply choosing a healthcare provider. They are placing tremendous trust in the people who will care for their loved one during one of life’s most difficult seasons. That responsibility is one we never take lightly.
Our team understands that hospice care is about more than managing symptoms. It is about listening. It is about honoring wishes. It is about helping families navigate uncertainty with confidence and compassion. And it is about ensuring every patient is treated with dignity, every step of the way.
Those are the values we bring into every community we serve.
Last week’s ribbon cutting was a celebration, but it was also a promise.
A promise that Big Bend Hospice will be a trusted partner to the physicians, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and healthcare professionals who already serve Bay County so well. A promise that we will invest in relationships, become part of the community, and earn the trust of the families who invite us into their homes.
That kind of trust is not built overnight.
None of this would be possible without the people who have worked tirelessly to make this expansion a reality. I want to recognize our Regional Clinical Director, Julie Head, RN, and the entire Panama City team for the care, leadership, and heart they have poured into this effort. Long before we cut the ribbon, they were building relationships throughout Bay County, listening to the needs of the community, and demonstrating the compassion that defines Big Bend Hospice. They have laid a strong foundation, and I know our newest neighbors will be well served because of their dedication.
Trust is earned through every visit, every conversation, and every family we have the privilege to serve.
This expansion represents more than a new service area..
It represents another community where families can receive compassionate hospice care from an organization whose mission has remained unchanged for more than 45 years.
We are honored to begin this journey in Bay County, and we look forward to serving our newest neighbors with the same care, compassion, and commitment that have defined Big Bend Hospice from the very beginning.