On October 22, 2025, something big happened across Arden’s hospice branches in Mississippi and Southern Tennessee—something our team had been quietly working toward for months. The American Heart Association officially certified Arden Hospice of Central Mississippi, South Mississippi, North Mississippi, and Southern Tennessee with its Palliative/Hospice Heart Failure Certification, a distinction reserved for agencies that meet the highest standards of heart-failure care in the country.
If that sounds like a mouthful, you’re not wrong. But here’s the heart of it:
This certification means families caring for a loved one with heart failure can trust that Arden is delivering the absolute best evidence-based, comfort-focused care available.
And if you read the email thread that flew between our team that morning, you’d see the mix of excitement, relief, and a few celebratory typos that come with earning something truly meaningful.
A Celebration That Started With “Looping You In…”
The news first came from the American Heart Association itself: “This certification is a testament to your unwavering commitment and exceptional dedication to serving your patient population and community.” —American Heart Association Healthcare Certification Team. Within minutes, Arden’s VP of Hospice Operations, Christy Woods, forwarded the message with a simple line that said it all:
“We are officially certified.”
That email set off a ripple effect—congratulations, disbelief, pride, and even a suggestion that maybe this moment deserved a video (we agree, Pat).
Behind all of it was one unified sentiment: This is good. It’s good for our patients, their families, and it sums up why we do what we do every day.
Why This Certification Matters
Heart failure is complicated—and unpredictable. Symptoms can escalate without warning, and families often find themselves unsure of what’s normal, what’s concerning, and when to call for help.
This certification means:
- Arden utilizes a standardized, evidence-based care model grounded in the latest American Heart Association science.
- Our clinicians receive specialized training in early symptom recognition, enabling them to intervene before a patient reaches a breathing crisis.
- Families are taught what to watch for and how to respond—because knowledge is one of the most powerful tools in caregiving.
- Arden meets rigorous national criteria developed by experts in heart failure and hospice care.
In short, patients stay more comfortable, families feel more confident, and the time they have together becomes more meaningful.
Christy Woods: The Heart Behind The Certification
If there’s one person who shepherded this project from start to finish, it’s Christy Woods, Arden’s VP of Hospice Operations. Her insight, leadership, and persistence made this moment possible.
Here’s what Christy shared about the program, and why it matters so deeply to her and the entire hospice team:
“In our hospice service line, we are always seeking ways to enhance the quality of life for our patients. We recognized that developing this program and obtaining certification would help us do just that.
The AHA program focuses on early symptom recognition by our clinicians, who empower patients and caregivers to recognize and report signs of worsening heart failure symptoms before they progress to a breathing crisis.
We have already seen improvements in the quality of life for our patients in the program. This is truly what our goal with hospice is for our patients.”
Christy’s words capture something important—something Arden has been built on since Abb and Jennifer Payne first founded the company: “If we can improve someone’s comfort, dignity, and peace—even by a little—we have done our job. This certification simply gives us more tools to do that, every single day.”
“Quality Of Life” Isn’t a Slogan. It’s the Work.
Inside Arden, we talk often about “making the most of the time that patients have.” It’s not marketing language. It’s the first question we ask when we walk into a home: “What matters most to you today?”
The American Heart Association certification supports that mission in real, tangible ways:
- Fewer Hospitalizations
- Fewer Crisis Moments
- More Comfortable Nights
- More Shared Conversations
- More Family Moments Uninterrupted By Uncertainty
It’s an honor—and a responsibility—we don’t take lightly.
A Team Effort Worth Celebrating
This wasn’t a quick win or a paper exercise. It took months of preparation, training, documentation, and collaboration to achieve this goal. It took emails, phone calls, file sharing, late-night downloads, and a VP who accidentally typed “JB” instead of “Jennifer” but corrected it immediately. It couldn’t be done without the following:
- Nurses
- CNAs
- Social Workers
- Chaplains
- Physicians
- Care Coordinators
- Leadership Teams
- The dear families who trust us in their most vulnerable moments
Every step was fueled by compassion and a belief that our patients deserve the best version of hospice care available.
Looking Ahead
We’re proud—truly proud—of this certification. But we also know it’s not the finish line. It’s a foundation we will build on as we continue to bring comfort, clarity, and support to patients and families across Mississippi and Southern Tennessee.
And if you’ve ever worked with Abb and Jennifer Payne, you know that “good enough” isn’t in their vocabulary. This milestone is just one more way Arden continues raising the bar for what compassionate care should look like.
Learn More or Connect With Us
If you’d like to learn more about the American Heart Association’s Palliative/Hospice Heart Failure Certification, visit: www.heart.org/PHHeartFailure
If you’d like to talk with someone about hospice care for a loved one—or simply want to understand what your options are—Arden is here.
Connect with us:
- Online: https://ardencares.com/contact/
- Phone: (855) ARDEN4U.
Your life matters, and we’re honored to walk alongside you through every chapter of it.