2011 - Hospice of the North Country

2011 Annual Report
Clinton County
358 Tom Miller Road
Plattsburgh, New York 12901
518.561.8465
www.hospicenc.org
Franklin County
104 Park Street
Malone, New York 12953
518.483.3200
hospice care. . . .it’s about how you live.
From the Chief Executive Officer
As we look back on 2011 here at Hospice of the North Country we are celebrating a year that contained some great
successes and growth. We experienced a slight increase in the amount of care we provided as the average number
of patients that we served increased from 46 per day in 2010 to 47 per day in 2011. But an area of growth that we
are also celebrating is much more difficult to measure than simply counting and averaging patient numbers.
2011 was a year where we poured a significant amount of effort and attention into internal growth. From quality
measurement to marketing, from management strategy to staff development and education, from strategic planning
to team building, our approach has been purposeful and filled with intention.
Our intention is to help mould this organization into the best agency that it can be. With an uncertain economy and
an even more uncertain healthcare landscape small, independent organizations such as Hospice of the North Country
need to be striving for an increasingly higher level of excellence, efficiency and effectiveness in order to survive and
continue to provide the vitally important services that we do. With those facts in mind, we spent this past year planning and training and examining what we do and how we do it in order to become a better, stronger, healthier hospice that will be present to provide high quality end of life care far into the future. Those efforts included:
 Team Building Sessions where all staff members had the opportunity to learn to work more effectively with
those they serve on a daily basis.
 An Employee Engagement Survey aimed at helping us learn how we can serve our employees more effectively.
 New, focused, quality measurements and goals resulting from Family Satisfaction and Bereavement Services
Satisfaction surveys.
 Computerization of the patient medical record, including implementation of in-home clinical documentation
on computers.
 Performance Improvement Projects aimed at making us stronger in targeted areas of need.
 A marketing plan aimed at making known the work that hospice does to more people in our service area than
ever before.
 A management strategy that assists managers and administrators in overseeing the delivery of high amounts
of high quality care and service to those we serve in the most fiscally responsible way possible.
 The Board of Directors beginning work on a 3-5 year strategic plan to help guide our organization into the
future.
 An intense two-day training for managers aimed at developing leadership, communication and other teamrelated skills.
 Education, certifications and other training specific job duties for various staff members.
Hospice of the North Country has been on a wonderful journey toward maximizing the potential of every part of our
organization, all while accomplishing slightly more patient care than ever before in our history!
In his book entitled “The Five Levels of Leadership”, John C. Maxell says that staff are the only “appreciable” asset
that an organization has. In other words, our staff, our people resources, have the potential and ability to grow in
value. A large share of the attention we have given to internal growth will allow our staff to grow in value and to develop both personally and professionally. I can’t think of any better way or any more worthwhile approach in becoming the best that we can be in the area of providing end-of-life care than to invest in those who actually provide the
care.
And, with that fact in mind, I would like to thank our staff: both paid and volunteer, our Board of Directors, members
of the Senior Management Team-Sherry, Greg and Amanda for their wisdom and loyalty, Cindie, our Board President
for her guidance and insight, and last but not least you, our faithful supporters and friends, who contribute immeasurably to the success of our mission.
We have grown and will continue to grow for the sake of the noble mission that we all call hospice.
Proud and Blessed to Serve,
Kent W. Brooks
Core Value: Growth
“We will evolve and improve in all aspects of our mission.”
Patient Care 2011
Hospice Myth: Hospice is a place.
In 2011, 84% of patient care was done in patient
homes while 16% was done in nursing homes, hospitals and assisted living facilities.
Hospice Myth: Hospice is only for people who have cancer
In 2011, 47% of patients served by Hospice of the North
Country had a non-cancer diagnoses. Congestive heart failure, dementia, kidney disease and COPD are just some of
these non-cancer diagnoses .
The graph above depicts “source of referral”. Now
more than ever, we are starting to receive hospice
referrals from sources other than physicians. Each
year, more and more referrals come from the self/
family/friend category. This is an encouraging statistic as it indicates that more people understand our
mission and services.
In 2011 we had the honor to care for 296 patients
and their loved ones.
Pictured left to right are Sue McDonnell, Social Worker,
Hospice of the North Country Plattsburgh patient Nettie
Provost, and Alyson Curry, Licensed Certified Social
Worker.
Core Value: Care
“We are dedicated to providing the highest level of holistic, compassionate, and competent care
without regard to human circumstance.”
2011 Financial Report and Fundraising
Core Value: Stewardship
“We pledge to utilize and preserve all of our resources responsibly.”
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In 2011, Hospice of the North Country received
grants and awards from:
 Wal-Mart (Malone)
 Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Foundation
 Franklin County
 Toyota Dealer Match
 Adirondack Community Trust
We would like to acknowledge the United Way of the Adirondack
Region, Inc. We received funds from the 2011 campaign and we
thank those who allocated money from their paychecks to Hospice of the North Country. We received approximately $41,000 in
positive designations from this campaign.
Hospice of the North Country is a partner agency
with the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.
Fundraising 2011
Hospice of the North Country Events
Plattsburgh Memorial Butterfly Release
$2,147.00
Malone Memorial Butterfly Release
$3,005.00
Make the Flower Bloom
$6,940.00
16th Annual Carol Wallett Golf Tournament
$23,909.00
6th Annual Frank Davio Golf Tournament
$8,374.80
5th Annual Hot Rods for Hospice
$7,375.50
We would like to acknowledge organizations that have raised
money for Hospice of the North Country in 2011. Thank you
for your selflessness and dedication to our mission!
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In Motion Physical Therapy
Plattsburgh Lions Club
Knights of Columbus #255
First Congregational Church
& Society
North Country Church of
Spirit
American Legion Post #219
Bonesteel’s Gardening Center
Lions Club of Malone
First Congregational Church–
Women’s Fellowship
Chazy Lions Club
Peru Rod & Gun Club
Disciples in Mission
Ausable Valley Booster Club
Beekmantown Lions Club
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Fourth Ward Irishmen
Johnson Newspaper CorpMalone Telegram
Kim Abbott– Abbott Memorial Golf Tournament
Bare Hill Correctional Facility
Della Toyota Scion
First Presbyterian Church
Peabody’s
Perrywinkle’s Fine Jewelry
Holy Family Council #7215
Plattsburgh High School National Honor Society
Back Porch Band
Kiwanis Club of Rouses
Point/Champlain
Peru Lions Club
Sacred Heart Fraternity
27th Annual Ecumenical Christmas Concert
$7,330.00
Light Up A Life 2011
$39,919.39
*Gross Amounts Indicated
In 2011, Bare Hill Correctional Facility’s Make a Difference Day
raised $5,000 for Hospice of the North Country. There were
several different fundraisers held including a silent auction, raffles, jean day and bake sales. Pictured above left to right are:
Carol O’Meara, Laurie Peary, Jen Dumas, Cathy Bashaw, Hospice
of the North Country Director of Development Amanda M. Bow,
Tina DeLisle, Marie Pickering, Stacy Pelkey, and Bare Hill Superintendent Bruce Yelich.
The Clinton County Board of Realtors held their annual
auction in October of 2011. Once again, they chose Hospice of the North Country as beneficiaries of the proceeds. It was another very successful year! The total
donated was $23,813.51.
Thank you to all our personal contributors who
honor us by donating their charitable gifts.
Your generosity guarantees our continued existence here in the North Country. We truly
appreciate all that you do.
2011
Clinton County Volunteers
Gary Allen
John Annette
Wendy Annette
Maria Arce
Heather Barnes-Bradt
Naomi Bradshaw
Gail Bradley
James Bennett
Amy Clark
Gayle Coe
Tom Conlin
Kristy Curry-Brown
Loretta Curry
George Cummings
Genevieve D'Alessandro
Jessica Doerrer
Kenneth Emery
Grace Fader
Susan Ford
Rev. James Forsythe
Veronica Franklin
Eleanor Frenyea
Amanda Goodfellow
Catherine Goulet
Lora Goulet
Maria Goulet
Daniel Hickey
Karen Hickey
Patricia Hinkley
Juliette Jolicoeur
Kevin Kearney
Marge Kearney
Jane Kessler
Diane LaBombard
Sr. Joan Lashway
Amanda LaVigne
Janie Letourneau
Stephen Lombard
Patricia Loughan
Ken Lushia
Simone Marcotte
Barbara Mattes
Wolfgang Mattes
Sarah McCoy
John McDonald
Larry McDonald
Evelyn McGill
Joyce Miller
Rita Monette
Lois Putnam
Fr. Bill Reamer
Don Ryan
Joseph G. Swinyer
Harriet Taylor
Peter Turner
Mary Vasile
Rose Wells
Ulrike Willis
Wanda Wright
Cecilia Yelle
In 2011, Hospice of the North
Country volunteers offered
2,368 hours of volunteer time
and logged 12,726 miles of
travel to provide support and
companionship to our patients
and families, and to assist in
both our Malone and Plattsburgh Offices by filing, answering phones and fundraising. Our
volunteers are truly the heart of
hospice and we say thank you
for all they do.
All LUAL Volunteers
All Community
Fundraising Volunteers
Pictured above: Volunteer Kevin Kearney
and Clinton County patient Don Senecal.
Franklin County Volunteers
Jean Austin
Alice Ballard
Gail Barcombe
Rosemary Bonaparte
Margaret Boyea
George Bradshaw
Shirley Clark
Karen Coughlin
Gayle DeWitt
Caroline Durant
Nicole Fish
Veronica Franklin
Irene Gambill
Mary Lou Griffin
Mary Grow
Marie “Terry” Gumbus
Robert Hazelton
Margaret Jacobs
Mary Kelly
Bertha “Birdie” Leavitt
Lory Lepine
Phyllis Lobdell
Ashleigh Lord
Jamie Lord
Elizabeth Marshall
Shirley Maxwell
Cynthia McNickle
Carla Melville
Core Value: Justice
We will serve all individuals fairly.
Mabel Nelson
Leola Phelps
Debra Phillips
Cindy Shafer
Donna Spellman
Leonard Spinner
Barbara Sullivan
Charlene Thomas
Cindy West
Karen Whitbeck
All Community Fundraising Volunteers
Pictured above: John and Wendy Annette
and Glory. Glory is one of our first “canine”
volunteers visiting homes and offering pet
therapy to those interested.
Core Value: Integrity
We will be honest with our patients,
their loved ones, and each other while
respecting privacy and confidentiality.
HONC Staff
Board of Directors
Kent W. Brooks
Chief Executive Officer
Greg R. Macdonald
Chief Financial Officer
Sherry Schoonmaker, RN
Director of Patient Services
Amanda M. Bow
Director of Development
James Benware
LPN
Joan Berthiaume, RN
Agency Advancement Leader
Terri Brumfield
LPN
Cheryl Brunet, RN
Case Manager
Ellen Bruno
Home Health Aide
Heather Burnell
Payroll and Accounts Payable
Fran Chesbrough, RN
Case Manager
Joanne Swiesz
Jackie Cobb
Administrative Clinical Secretary
Ginny Cuttaia
Alyson Curry, LCSW
Family Support Team Leader
Jessica Dumas
Family Support Team Leader
Linda Facteau, RN
Per Diem RN
Kyle Garrant
LPN
Sr. Mary Ann Gour
Spiritual Care Coordinator
Deanna Grogan
LPN
Beverly “Bev” Kellas
Receptionist/HR Coordinator/Admin. Asst.
Mary Lou Kingsley, RN
On-Call RN
Eleanor LaClair, ANP
Per Diem Nurse Practioner
Katie LePage, RN
Case Manager
Sheila Marlow
Home Health Aide
Susan McDonnell, BSW
Social Worker
Beth O’Connor, RN
Nursing Team Leader/Admissions
Ellen O’Hara, RN
Per Diem RN
Diane Roberts
Accounts Receivable
Julie Rowe
Director of Volunteer Services
Nilda Schule, RN
Per Diem Case Manager
Robin Snide, RN
Case Manager
Scott Sturgen, RN
Per Diem RN
Richard Toner
Per Diem Bereavement Support
Tara Trim, RN
Nursing Team Leader
Lori Tulip, RN
Per Diem RN
Lisa Wilson
Clinical Administrative Assistant
Cindie Gardner
PRESIDENT
Raeanne McLaughlin
VICE-PRESIDENT
Rose Pandozy
SECRETARY
Tom Rennell
TREASURER
Debbi Barber
Michelle Denny
Judge Patrick McGill
Tom Conlin
Mary Goddeau
Rebecca Preve
William Meconi
Medical Directors
Deborah Lang, MD
Christopher Badger, MD
John Homer, MD
Wouter Rietsema, MD
The following is a list of employees who were with us in
2011 but have moved on to other challenges. We thank
them for their various and important contributions to the
care of our hospice patients and families.
Debra Blair-Johnson, RN Per Diem Case Manager
Myra Colmenero-Macmillan, Per Diem Admin. Support
Tamara Crinklaw, LCSW Support Team Leader
Jennifer Desso, Home Health Aide
Jessica Dresser, LPN
Robin Foster, RN Case Manager
Joy Gifford, Director of Volunteer Services
Kerry Hanna, RN Case Manager
Karen Hoy, RN Case Manager
Jessica Lavarnway, RN Nursing Team Leader
Peggy Moy, Home Health Aide
Jean Merlin, BSW Transitions Coordinator
Tracey Tavano, RN Per Diem Nurse
Core Value: Freedom
We respect and support the right of the
individual and the family to make informed
decisions about end-of-life care.
Message from the Chair of the Board of Directors
It is with pleasure and pride that I submit this report on behalf of the Board of Directors. Pleasure because it is the second time I
have the opportunity to thank the staff, volunteers and leadership of Hospice of the North Country for the compassionate care
they provide to individuals and their families facing end of life situations. And pride, because as I have interacted with more of the
hospice family, I am acutely aware of their complete dedication to the communities they serve. They are truly remarkable people
who strive daily to ensure that during the most difficult days of patients and families lives, they are there for them and they make a
difference.
As we enter our second year in our new Plattsburgh facility, we continue to be grateful to all who helped make this dream come
true. It is now time to focus on our Malone family with the same dream of an enhanced facility from which they can continue their
valuable work to a growing number of families.
Although 2010 was a record year for reaching out and helping others, we continue to grow the number of families served in 2011.
It is the staff and volunteers that make this possible. Their goal is to continue to grow and reach as many families as possible in
their greatest time of need. The board is incredibly proud of not only the work they do but the way they do it. As we survey the
families served, they continue to validate what we already know, that Hospice is a most valuable asset to the Plattsburgh and
Malone communities.
Ongoing staff and leadership team development is a daily event at Hospice. These activities add to the existing commitment to
provide service excellence and the highest level of quality care to our communities.
In closing, I want to thank my fellow board members for their time, ongoing support and dedication. We are blessed to have a fully
engaged board whose sole focus is to support hospice care to be the best that it can be. As board members, we look forward to
participating in finalizing the strategic plan as well as turning our attention to a new home for our Malone office of Hospice.
C
W
a
Cynthia Gardner, RN MS
President, Board of Directors
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