Dr. Rachel Lipner Announced as Chief Medical Officer
As of April 2024, Rachel Lipner, D.O. was appointed as Chief Medical Officer for Transitions LifeCare and will join their executive leadership team.
Dr. Lipner has been with Transitions since 2016, providing clinical care in both hospice and palliative medicine and has taken on progressive leadership roles since 2018, including most recently as the Executive Medical Director. Dr. Lipner is Hospice Medical Director Certified (HMDC), and in 2023 received the prestigious honor of being recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (FAAHPM), which is one the highest honors the Academy can bestow on an AAHPM member and is achieved by members whose professional activity is devoted to the practice of hospice and palliative medicine.
In the Chief Medical Officer role, Dr. Lipner will be responsible for strategic and leadership direction to the medical staff, including supervision of the physicians and advanced practice providers. She will also be responsible for the maintenance of appropriate medical policies and standards to meet agency, state, federal and accreditation requirements. This role functions as the senior medical liaison of Transitions LifeCare within the medical community and community at large, building effective relationships with referring physicians and healthcare systems.
“Dr. Lipner is a passionate leader in hospice and palliative care dedicated to improving access to care. She has done an outstanding job leading our inpatient palliative care services for the last several years and is looked to as a key leader within the health system for broader education and clinical expertise,” stated Dr. Laura Patel, CEO of Transitions LifeCare. “She has provided leadership and mentorship for our medical staff, and her commitment to clinical excellence and collaborative approach will support Transitions LifeCare well into the future.”
Dr. Lipner earned her medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Internal Medicine residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network and fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine with the UNC School of Medicine.
“I am honored to join the executive team at Transitions LifeCare. It is a privilege to serve this incredible organization that compassionately cares for and supports the patients, families, community, and healthcare partners of Wake and surrounding counties. My passion remains direct patient care, as well as teaching and empowering all healthcare professionals to utilize communication skills to better care for seriously ill patients and their families.” Dr. Lipner said.
Transitions LifeCare is celebrating its 45th anniversary as one of the largest independent, not-for-profit hospice organizations in North Carolina. They have been continuously voted the top hospice provider annually by The News and Observer and are the top recommended hospice in the Triangle according to CMS Family and Caregiver surveys.