Bluegrass Care Navigators has provided hospice care to the area since 2008. The regional office, along with dedicated executive leadership and a durable medical equipment distribution facility, gives the organization more opportunities to partner with healthcare organizations in the community and connect patients with needed care at home. 

“Our goal is to provide compassionate, expert care to those who need it wherever they call home, whether that is in a private home, a nursing home, or even in the hospital,” said Bluegrass Care Navigators CEO Liz Fowler.  “As our local nurses, physicians, aides, chaplains and social workers continue to serve more Kentuckians in these counties, this expanded location gives us more opportunity to provide excellent care at home.” 

To oversee services provided from the Pikeville Regional Office, Jennifer Starr has been selected as the Executive Director for the region.  Starr’s appointment marks a return to Eastern Kentucky after 20 years of nursing in Kingsport and Knoxville, Tennessee, including 15 years as a hospice nurse and various nurse leadership roles.  Starr is a native of Hazard, Kentucky, a graduate of Hazard High School, and currently lives in Prestonsburg.   

“I am so proud to return to Eastern Kentucky to lead our hospice team in serving patients and families,” said Starr.  “The need for high quality end-of-life care is growing, and my goal is to connect more families to the unique support and comfort that only hospice care can provide.” 

For Chief Hospice Officer Monica Couch, the office expansion marks an important milestone in serving Eastern Kentucky.  “There is a growing need for comprehensive care for seriously ill and aging Eastern Kentuckians,” said Couch.  “The expansion of our regional office affirms our commitment to working with other healthcare providers to deliver the right care at the right time to patients and families right here in our home community.” 



Hospice care provides physical, personal, emotional and spiritual care to patients and families who are no longer receiving treatments to cure their terminal illness, but instead choose to improve comfort and quality of life.  As a nonprofit organization, no one is turned away from Bluegrass Care Navigators based on ability to pay for hospice services.