caring - Ogeechee Area Hospice

CARING
Ogeechee Area Hospice provides care regardless of age, gender, religion, national origin, lifestyle, diagnosis, or ability to pay.
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Ogeechee Area Hospice
Will Continue a Tradition of Excellence
residents of Bulloch and the surrounding counties.
my role as a servant-leader. Never quite
comfortable in a public arena, it was a love for my
community and a desire to fulfill a need that
drove me. Terminally ill residents in our region
deserved to be supported at home with
compassionate and skilled care; care rendered
with focus and intention. And for that purpose we
joined together to create the best of the
best — Ogeechee Area Hospice.
ment of promoting human dignity and comfort to eligible
of compassion, choice and respect, we fulfill our commitby progressive life-limiting illness. With a common spirit
providing expert comfort and support to persons affected
Ogeechee Area Hospice exists for the sole purpose of
STATESBORO, GA
Words cannot express the gratitude that I have
for having the honor and privilege of coming to
know so many wise and committed people over
the years. Bonds were formed through trials and
triumphs. The next part of my life will be enriched
by memories of so many incredible colleagues,
volunteers, community members, patients and
their families.
Permit No. 437
Paid
US Postage
P.O. BOX 531
Non-Profit
OGEECHEE AREA HOSPICE
Founding Director
Nancy Bryant RN, MSN
Retires After 21 Years
CARING
With A Non-Profit Mission
Ogeechee Area Hospice embraces
patients and their families, offering them
the needed support through the stages of
a progressive life-limiting illness.
2015
F
all has now turned to winter. Crisp weather
and warm fires of the season are upon us. It
is also a changing season of my life; a time to
enter the next phase of living. I am certain that
the tasks assigned to me by our community and
our God have been accomplished.
This new year of reflection and anticipation is an
appropriate time to say thank you to the
community, my family, our board of directors and
to all of the employees & volunteers who have
served the terminally ill with honor, skill, dedication and humility over the past two decades.
Twenty seasons have passed. During our humble
beginnings, I never imagined that a desire to
introduce a unique form of health care, specifically
designed to ease the emotional, spiritual and
physical pain at life’s end —Hospice Care—would
have such a remarkable impact on so many lives.
If I were to request a personal legacy it would be
for all to know that, from the beginning, I viewed
The trust and confidence received by members of
the board of directors will continue to inspire me.
Commitment to the cause, faith in the community
and hard work have been the trademarks of the
boards servant-leadership. Without these
qualities various critical projects may not have
been realized.
I am extremely proud and privileged to have been
on the journey with Ogeechee Area Hospice from
the beginning. Although my tenure is now
complete, Ogeechee Area Hospice will assuredly
continue a tradition of excellence. The torch will
continue to burn and the mission will live on
through all those who take time to listen and
heed the call to service and leadership.
Learn about
your choices
My Journey is now
Complete. However,
Ogeechee Area Hospice
will continue a tradition
of excellence.
by calling
us today.
We are here
for you.
Nancy Bryant
Receives Naming Honor of
Hospice Facility
Commitment to
Expert Leadership
Husband, Larry Bryant,
gave a moving testimonial
of the work of wife, Nancy
Bryant, beginning with her
plan in 1993 to start
hospice care for the
terminally ill. Posing with
their four grandchildren,
the announcement of the
naming of the Ogeechee
Area Hospice Facility was
a stunning & humbling
moment for Nancy Bryant.
It was revealed to friends, family, employees, volunteers and members of the community during a reception for
founding director Nancy Bryant that the Ogeechee Area Hospice Inpatient Facility would carry her name.
President, Trish Tootle and board members unveiled the large bronze plaque. While Others spoke of her vision,
Nancy Bryant credited the work of a dedicated community and hard working board who joined her unwavering
belief in the cause, and a group vision revealed through servant-leadership.
Kimberly Foskey RN
accepted the reigns of
managing the hospice
home care program in
June 2014. A 2008
graduate of Georgia
Southern University, Kim
came to Ogeechee Area
Hospice in 2012 as a
hospice home care nurse.
With a strong background
in critical care and home
health care Kim excelled.
She is known as an
expert in clinical care with
a friendly and outgoing
personality. Kim earned
her national certification in hospice and palliative nursing
and now assumes oversight of the care of patients in
homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. “I am
very proud and honored to be the Home Care Program
Manager. Though challenging each day, I find it rewarding
to be in a leadership role as I work with exceptionally
skilled staff who focus on providing excellent patient care.”
Shelli Malphrus RN,
recently stepped into the
role of Nurse Manager of
our Inpatient Center. A
2001 graduate of
Georgia Southern
University, Shelli began
her career at Ogeechee
Area Hospice in 2006.
Shelli is known as a
skilled, compassionate
and detailed nurse.
With her broad background in public health,
emergency room care,
and hospice, Shelli is well
suited to oversee all care in our 25 bed Inpatient Center.
“I am excited to be returning to Ogeechee Area Hospice
to serve in this new capacity. Coming back to work with
old friends is a comfortable fit and I welcome the challenges of managing such a wonderful group of professionals in the Inpatient Center. Thanks for welcoming me
back”
Kimberly is a native of Claxton. She and her husband Eric
have 5 children and 1 grandchild.
Shelli is a native of Jenkins County. She and her husband
Matt have two children.
Brenda Waters LPN
Employee of the Year
Trish Tootle
Chap Cromley
Ted Wynn
Linda Dickerson
William (Bill) Hawkins
Lovett Bennett
Leo Parrish
Arthur Howard
Ogeechee Area Hospice Board of Directors
Family members, physicians, hospital personnel and others contact
Ogeechee Area Hospice by phone to refer patients who need hospice
services. These calls go to Brenda Waters. Often this is the first
conversation with anyone at Ogeechee Area Hospice. In her referralintake position, physician offices and hospitals receive prompt
attention and courtesy. Family members receive a compassionate
voice, pertinent information on hospice care and a listening ear.
Brenda then obtains medical information on each potential patient,
contacts their physician and various others tasks in order that patient
needs are met in a timely way. Brenda is certified in Hospice and
Palliative Nursing.
William Perry
Steve Burrell
Brenda Waters LPN,CHLPN
Among other numerous responsibilities, Brenda also schedules the
care of the home care nursing assistants. With ever changing patient
needs each day brings logistical challenges. Brenda meets each
challenge with success. Brenda was voted Employee of the Year by
her colleagues and greatly deserves this honor. Thank you Brenda
for your decade of service to Ogeechee Area Hospice. Your
commitment to our patients is evident each day.
A Closing Holiday Letter
Received by
Staff & Volunteers
WelcomeAmy Quinn
Our New Executive Director
T
he board of directors is pleased to announce Amy Quinn RN,
BSN, CHPN, CHPCA as the new Executive Director of
Ogeechee Area Hospice. Amy joins us after a 20 year career
with a large non-profit agency headquartered in Lexington,
Kentucky, Hospice of the Bluegrass, which serves 32 counties
and includes eight satellite offices and a free standing inpatient
center.
Amy Quinn RN, BSN, CHPN, CHPCA
Beginning her hospice career in 1994 as a home hospice nurse
gave her a firm foundation and commitment to end-of-life care
that lead her to broader roles. In 1996, Amy took on the role of
site director for the Northern Kentucky office which was a start
up program. Under her direction, that program grew from a
census of 26 to 76 in 4 years. For the next 2 years, she worked
on the implementation and customization of the electronic
medical record for clinician use, including the development of
policies and processes related to its utilization. In 2002 she
became the director of the satellite location in Cynthiana,
Kentucky. While overseeing all aspects of daily operations, Amy
was responsible for 75 employees who cared for over 200
patients a day. It was during this time that Amy participated in
fundraising and the design and construction of a new
administrative building.
Holding national certification in hospice and palliative care, Amy excelled in educating others. She
subsequently became a trainer for the Hospice & Palliative Care Nursing Association and the End of Life
Nursing Education Consortium: Presenting education on a state and national level followed.
It was in 2010 that Amy moved to the headquarters of Hospice of the Bluegrass in Lexington. As Clinical
Services Officer she continued to be active in education as well as mentoring site directors and mid-level
managers. While in Lexington Amy implemented a medical supply formulary and spearheaded change in
the delivery model of pharmacy & medical equipment for 900 patients per day. This resulted in
streamlining processes and impacting cost containment while ensuring quality service. Active in matters of
regulatory compliance, Amy was influential in ensuring continued Joint Commission accreditation of Hospice
of the Bluegrass.
Gretchen Brown, the now retired Chief Executive Officer of Hospice of the Bluegrass, describes Amy Quinn
in this way, “Amy is an incredibly smart and talented individual who is clinically astute, an excellent
educator, highly analytical and creative. She is well read regarding leadership and management strategies
and financially savvy in building budgets and cost containment strategies.”
December 24, 2014
Dear Staff and Volunteers of Ogeechee Area Hospice – Past and Present,
Another year has passed – so quickly. This will be my final Christmas letter to you as the
Director of Ogeechee Area Hospice. The ‘right’ words escape me. In searching, I read
several past annual holiday letters. They were filled with sincere words of gratitude, words
of encouragement, words of hope, words of thanks for good works, blessings for the future
and even quotes from the Grinch.
Flooded with so many thoughts, memories and emotions, there are no words that can
adequately express what I would like to convey this year.
It is said that Christmas is a time that we feel free to become vulnerable, give of ourselves in
unusual and special ways and express emotions that are not conveyed during our typical day
to day lives.
It has been a privilege to be in our world at Ogeechee Area Hospice where you
open yourself to vulnerability, give in unusual and special ways daily and feel free to express
emotions, often from the core of your soul.
It is said that Christmas is a time to be selfless, to turn our attention to those that are ill or less
fortunate than ourselves. It has been an honor to join with those who show selflessness each
day, that work each day with a purpose of serving the ill and less fortunate.
It is said that Christmas is a season of hope, peace and even miracles. It has been a joyful
existence to be with those who offer a special hope and peace in the midst of despair; to be a
partner in the miracle of relieving suffering; the miracle of comforting those who are fearful;
the miracle of spiritual peace, the miracle of ensuring death with dignity. And the miracle
that our patients know that their life mattered.
Over the years I have had the responsibility of making decisions in the best interest of our
patients and families, the best interest of employees and volunteers, as well as for the viability
of the agency. There were decisions that were necessary yet excruciatingly difficult to make
and carry out, decisions that made a positive mark and decisions that I would do differently if
Amy’s broad experience and knowledge in all aspects of operating a hospice including clinical standards of
care, regulatory requirements, business and leadership will prove to be critical as Ogeechee Area Hospice
moves into the future.
I could turn the clock back. I appreciate your trust, support, respect and your honest thoughts
Amy looks forward to this important Leadership position. "I am both excited and honored to be joining
Ogeechee Area Hospice in the role of Executive Director. My primary focus will be to continue the solid
legacy of quality, patient-focused services provided with compassion, choice, and respect established by
retiring Executive Director, Nancy Bryant. It is clear this wonderful program is much beloved and supported
by the community which is critical to the success of a non-profit organization. I look forward to becoming a
member of the excellent staff and volunteers who serve the people with such great commitment."
A wise quote reads: “The Christmas season brings tenderness for the past,
through challenging times.
courage in the present and hope for the future.” We will be transitioning
to the future – and there is great hope. It has been the utmost honor and
humbling experience to serve in this leadership role. Keep in mind that
you are the fabric of Ogeechee Area Hospice. I will keep in mind that my
wonderful memories of my life’s journey with Ogeechee Area Hospice will
wrap me like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night.
With much Love, Nancy Bryant
‘
‘Friends of Hospice’
Community Support
In Blue Jeans &
Gala Gowns
Continue Their Commitment
Scott, Chief Tax Appraiser for Bulloch County and an ordained minister of the
J ohn
Bethlehem Baptist Church, tells his story this way: “I first came to know
Ogeechee Area Hospice a decade ago. My wife, Wanda, and I had a dear friend who
was terminally ill. Her family, due to circumstances beyond their control, were
unable to care for her at their home. We took a leap of faith - a hospital bed was
brought to our living room and our friend came to our home. Although we had initial
anxiety about the task before us, nurses, nursing assistants, social workers and
others from Ogeechee Area Hospice came frequently to our home. Their compassion
and guidance was beyond what we expected. Wanda gained confidence in her role as
primary caregiver. Her death was peaceful and we knew that this six week journey
had been a life changing experience for both of us. Wanda went to nursing school to
become a hospice nurse and I volunteered.”
O
ver 2,000 tickets were pre-sold! After weeks of planning the morning of November
5th started before rooster’s crowed—around 4:00am. The crew of the Bulloch
County Correctional Institute and numerous community supporters cooked and prepared
2,500 dinners. 500 of these were cooked on-site by John Scott and his volunteers.
Hospice volunteers and staff alike set up tables, prepared plates under a donated tent
and organized the drive-through pick-up area. Other Volunteers began delivering
meals to schools and out of county businesses. It was a beautiful, fruitful and exciting
day for all!
Tinker Lanier & Trish Tootle
John then said bluntly, “You don’t really know about hospice until you experience it.
You gain a perspective that is powerful in many ways. Those who have not needed
it, but will in the future, don’t realize that Ogeechee Area Hospice is one of our
greatest resources. I believe we have a responsibility to ensure that it thrives and
survives into the future.” John said that it came to him that he could be of service by organizing an effort that
would engage a broad spectrum of supporters.
John and Trish Tootle have organized the fundraiser from the beginning. He was confident that such an
event would bring hundreds, even thousands, in the community together for a single cause. “I look at it as a
friendship. Friends have a partnership and an investment in each other. This is how I see the relationship
between Ogeechee area Hospice and our community. I see it as the ’Friends of Ogeechee Area Hospice.”
T
rish Tootle, Assistant Vice President of Farmers and Merchants Bank, and heavily
involved in many community activities, came to know Ogeechee Area Hospice in a
unique way. Her husband David announced to her one day in 1996 that he was
going to become a volunteer for Ogeechee Area Hospice. After David completed
volunteer training his patient assignments were generally men who had few or no
family members. The goal was always simple but powerful—offer companionship and
a listening ear. Trish tells her story: “It was the beginning of the holiday season and I
went with David to set up a small Christmas tree in Mr. J’s nursing home room. It was
obvious that he and David had developed a strong bond. We spent several holiday
evenings with him and I met several members of the hospice team. After the
Christmas season when we were taking the tree down, Mr. J said, ‘I won’t be needing
that tree next year. You take it home with you and please think of me every year
when you turn those lights go on.’ It was then that I experienced the power of
hospice care. Mr. J died knowing that he mattered—That he was not alone in the
world.”
A Silent Auction, Kawasaki Mule Raffle Drawing &
Dancing Until the Midnight Hour at the Nesmith-Lane
T
he Good Vibrations dazzled the large crowd of supporters throughout the evening, at the annual benefit gala in
late August. In celebration of 20 years of service by Ogeechee Area Hospice, couples danced in the NesmithLane Ballroom and mingled at the silent auction. Kim Galletta, winner of the 2014 Kawasaki Mule was present
when her name was drawn from thousands of tickets. President of the Board, Trish Tootle, thanked all who attended and concurred that all proceeds are used in the care of patients and their families.
Since that time, Trish has served as a member of the Board of Directors. From the board room she knows that
charitable donations allow patients and families more than is ‘required’. She speaks candidly, ”We know that
Medicare cuts are on the horizon. We know that it is becoming more costly to operate. Keeping the Inpatient
Center operating and giving our home care patients the broad spectrum of care will require increased community
support. I jumped at the idea of being co-chair for the first fundraising event by ‘Friends of Hospice’. We now
consider it a great community event.
She then said, “Committing myself to the service of Ogeechee Area Hospice, care of our most vulnerable
residents, was first David’s ‘heart’ and now it is mine also.”
Nurses, social workers & other committed
employees pose for a group picture
Volunteer Janelle, Hughes
assists with the silent auction
Guests danced to the sound of the ‘Good
Vibrations’ late into the evening