Volusia/Flagler

Keeping Haven Hospice Supporters Informed And Connected
FALL 2014
1
CONTENTS
2 FROM THE DESK OF
From the desk of
Tim Bowen
TIM BOWEN
THE HAVEN
DIFFERENCE
3
H AV E N P R E S I D E N T
4 WHAT’S GOING
ON AT HAVEN HOSPICE?
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS
FROM
8 MESSAGES
OUR FRIENDS
2
5
Welcome to the fall issue of In Touch!
In this issue, we have shared some of the
ways in which Haven Hospice is unique
in providing comfort, care and compassion
to those we are honored to serve. Both
nationally and in the state of Florida, there
has been recent media coverage about
a variety of hospice organizations that
have questionable practices. Interestingly,
it is not common knowledge that there
are multiple organizations providing
hospice services. Some organizations are
for-profit and others are non-profit. Some are
accredited and others are not. We wanted to
take this opportunity to differentiate Haven
Hospice from other hospice organizations.
We utilize rigorous quality assurance and
compliance programs to ensure quality care
for our patients and families.
As always, we are looking forward to a
busy fall event schedule at Haven Hospice
and hope that you can join us. On October
25, Irving and Norlene Roberts will host
the Roberts Ranch Round-Up in Palatka
and on November 8, the annual Fall on the
Range event in the Tri-Counties will surely
be bigger and better than ever.These evenings
will be filled with fun and good friends
while helping to support unreimbursed
programs and services for Haven patients and
families in our communities. One of these
programs is Camp Safe Haven which will
be wrapping up for 2014 with an overnight
camp experience just for teens in October.
Experiencing a loss can be alienating and
this is a great opportunity for teens to meet
and interact with peers who are on the same
journey towards healing.
In 2013, Haven provided direct care to
5,321 individuals facing life-limiting illness
either through our traditional hospice
services, our palliative care consultative
services or our Transitions pre-hospice
program. In addition, we provided
counseling and grief support services to
4,010 individuals and families through
children’s camps, individual and family
counseling sessions, memorial services,
telephone support and more.This meant that
Haven had the honor and privilege to serve
9,331 individuals and families throughout
our 18-county service area. In 2014, we have
been honored to serve even more patients
and families due to the generous support we
have received. Know that when you give to
Haven Hospice, you are not only touching
the lives of patients and families, but the lives
of your neighbors and friends as well.We are
truly grateful for your generosity.
Tim Bowen
If you are receiving duplicate copies of In Touch at your home or business, if
you wish to be removed from our mailing list, or if you would rather receive
an electronic copy of In Touch instead of a hard copy, please contact the
Haven Hospice Development Department at [email protected]
or call 1.800.727.1889..
The Haven
Difference
Since the 1970s, when hospices first began
providing care to patients and families, there
has been a misconception that all hospices
were part of one single organization. However,
there are thousands of hospices across the
country and multiple hospices to choose
from throughout Florida. Some of these
organizations are for-profit businesses and
others, like Haven Hospice, are communitybased, not-for-profit entities. Some hospices
are regularly surveyed and accredited like
Haven, while others are not. Some hospices,
like Haven, have rigorous quality assurance
and compliance programs, and unfortunately
others do not.
In recent months, there have been a
number of highly critical articles published
in The Washington Post and The Huffington
Post regarding the questionable practices of
some hospice organizations across the nation
and within Florida. While these articles are
critical of certain practices of particular hospice
organizations, these actions are not indicative
of the care provided by all hospices.
Suffice it to say, not all hospices are equal.
So how are patients and families supposed to
choose between multiple hospice providers?
Fortunately, there are some objective criteria
(many of which come from the National
Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
(NHPCO)) that can be used to help choose
a hospice. Below, you will see some of those
criteria along with how Haven compares
and differentiates itself from other hospice
providers in the area.
IS THE HOSPICE ORGANIZATION
ACCREDITED BY AN OUTSIDE
AGENCY?
Haven Hospice has a long-standing culture
of compliance and chooses to be accredited
by ACHC (Accreditation Commission for
Health Care) to ensure we meet and/or
exceed rigorous standards of care. As noted
by NHPCO, hospices are not required to be
accredited, but accreditation can be a reflection
of their commitment to quality.
DOES THE HOSPICE ORGANIZATION
MEASURE AND IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF CARE THAT IS
PROVIDED? HOW?
Haven employs a variety of innovative tools
to measure quality and has a long history of
using the data to improve patient care. In fact,
Haven was one of only two hospices from
around the country that were selected by CMS
(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) to
participate in a five-year Rural Demonstration
Project beginning in 2005. One key aspect of
this project was to ascertain whether or not
hospice programs could effectively implement
and utilize quality assessment and performance
improvement (QAPI) programs. Because
of the success of Haven’s QAPI program, it
helped serve as the blueprint for CMS when
they made QAPI programs mandatory in 2008
for all hospices across the country.
One example of a quality measure
tracked by Haven, as defined by the Florida
Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA), involves
patient pain scores. The DOEA expects that
50 percent of all patients being admitted to
hospice with severe pain (score of 7 or higher
on a 0-10 scale) should have their pain reduced
to a self-reported pain score of 5 or lower by
the end of the fourth day. Haven believes
controlling patients’ pain is critically important
to providing quality care and maximizing the
quality of life for patients and families. Haven
has a much higher, internal standard than
DOEA’s 50 percent benchmark. Haven has
consistently been able to reduce patients’ severe
pain over 95 percent of the time for 2012, 2013
and 2014 year to date.
DOES THE HOSPICE OWN OR
OPERATE A HOSPICE CARE FACILITY
TO PROVIDE HOME-LIKE CARE?
Hospice care centers are critical pieces to
the continuum of end-of-life care. Although
the core hospice philosophy is to provide
care in the home where the patient is most
comfortable, there are many situations when
that is not possible. In those situations, patients
go to care centers for inpatient and respite care.
Haven currently operates five free-standing
inpatient hospice care centers throughout
North Florida including Gainesville, Palatka,
Lake City, Chiefland and Orange Park.
Haven care centers are not only equipped
to cater to short-term inpatient needs, but
they also provide respite care to support
families and caregivers who need a break.
In these welcoming, home-like settings,
Haven clinicians are able to provide aroundthe-clock care to patients needing intense
pain and symptom management as well as
provide education and support to family and
loved ones.
All Haven care centers are designed to have
a comfortable and home-like atmosphere.
They include chapels, sitting areas, living
rooms, sun rooms, porches, children’s play areas,
dining rooms and private patient rooms that
can be personalized by patients and families.
Emphasis has been placed on designing
warm, comforting and caring environments
with beautiful memorial gardens and brick
walkways surrounding the property. Family
members and friends are welcome 24 hours a
day, and visits from children and family pets are
not only allowed but encouraged.
In many situations, patients come to Haven
care centers for short-term pain and symptom
management or for respite care and then are
able to return home. So even though 92.9
percent of our care is provided in patients’
homes (wherever they consider “home”),
many of our patients will spend at least some
time in a care center.
WHAT “EXTRA” SERVICES DOES
THE HOSPICE OFFER?
Haven programs and services address the
physical, medical, emotional and spiritual
challenges associated with life-limiting illness
and include the following: a home medical
equipment (HME) division, Pegasus program
(for children), Healing Hearts (grief support),
Camp Safe Haven (for children, teens and
families who have lost a loved one), We
Honor Veterans, Pet Visitation, Pet Peace of
Mind and Transitions (for those not yet ready
for hospice care).
• As a unique service and benefit, Haven has
a home medical equipment division
which allows us to control the quality and
type of medical supplies and equipment
necessary for a patient’s care as it relates to
their hospice diagnosis.
continued on page 5
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JROTC Titan Battalion Recognized for
Volunteering with Haven Veteran Patients
The University High School JROTC
(Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)
Titan Battalion was the recipient of the
2013 Live United Youth Group Volunteer of
the Year Award presented by the United Way
of Volusia-Flagler Counties for their work
with Haven Hospice veteran patients.
Haven Hospice Volunteer Coordinator
Mary Kathryn Maine began working
with the University High School United
States Army JROTC in early 2013 as part
of a service-learning project sponsored by
Haven Hospice to honor area nursing home
veterans. The project was initiated by Haven
Hospice as part of the “We Honor Veterans
Program” which included the Veterans
Flag Garden in the Volusia Mall. The Titan
Battalion of 60 cadets engaged in activities at
four local nursing homes to recognize over
120 veterans on behalf of Haven Hospice. During each visit, cadets were dressed
in full uniform while singing the National
Anthem, leading the Pledge of Allegiance
and presenting the colors. Each veteran
received a personalized miniature American
flag along with a dog tag inscribed with the
veteran’s name and service branch. Flags
were then placed either in a flag garden at
the nursing home facility or cadets later
placed flags at the Volusia Mall Veterans Flag
Garden. Veterans also received letters that
the cadets had personally written. The cadets
found the ceremonies to be an extremely
gratifying and inspiring opportunity. The United Way Volunteer Center and
Bright House Networks presented the
27th Annual Outstanding Volunteers of
the Year Awards on April 24 in celebration
of National Volunteer Week at the Hilton
Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort. There
were nearly 50 individuals/organizations
nominated in different categories, and
winners were selected by a panel of
community leaders. The Master of
Ceremonies for the event was WESH News
Channel 2 Anchor Jim Payne. f
Inaugural Chief John Wright
Memorial Obstacle Challenge
The inaugural Chief John Wright
Memorial Obstacle Challenge raised more
than $4,600 to benefit patients and families of
Haven Hospice on May 31 at Fiddler’s Green
Ranch in Altoona. The challenge began with
a flag ceremony led by Travis Sawyer, a local
firefighter and the Lake County Sheriff ’s
Mounted Posse while the National Anthem
was sung by Joni Nathanson. More than 80
riders participated in one of four equine
divisions and guided their horses through
obstacles like a teeter totter, bridge crossing
and turnstile. The top six riders of each
division received a ribbon, and the overall
winners received trophies.
Winners in the posse/pro division included
Sarah Schlaich in first place, Sharon Carty
in second place and Cathy Rotola in third
place. Winners in the adult/non-pro division
included Debbie Howell in first place, Glenda
Bradley in second place and Joni Nathanson
in third place. Winners in the novice division
included Becky Brannan in first place,
Stephanie McAfee in second place and Sissy
Beery in third place. Winners in the youth
division included Stephanie Walters in first
4
place, Amelia Wagner in second place and
Shawn Charles in third place.
The event, created and managed by his
wife Bert Wright, honored the life of Chief
John Wright. According to Bert, John was
a Jacksonville native, served
on the Jacksonville Fire
Department for 25 years and
retired as the chief of the
DeLand Fire Department after
17 years.
All proceeds benefited the
unreimbursed programs and
services provided by Haven
Hospice to patients, families
and the communities it serves.
Haven would like to thank Bert Ashley Paige
Wright for planning the event,
JoAnn Cosgrove for donating the arena space
at Fiddler’s Green Ranch, Dane Hovey for
donating obstacles and emceeing the event,
Bess Wall for her leadership, and all donors and
participants. Thank you to Darlene Applebee,
Marcie Morey, Kristen Smeenk and Carla
Congdon for judging the challenge. f
Handmade Lap
Blankets Bring
Comfort to
Patients
With tears in her eyes, a petite Haven
Hospice patient held up her handmade
blanket and said, “Please thank the lady
who made this for me!” Similar responses
came from other hospice patients who
received lap blankets handmade by talented
and generous citizens from Volusia and
Flagler counties.
“It’s been inspiring to hear the humble
pride in the voices of the people who
knitted, crocheted and quilted lap
blankets for patients they don’t know,”
said Community Liaison for Haven
Hospice Terri Perry. “We hoped to get
200 blankets, we knew we’d be happy to
receive 90, but we were ecstatic to find
322 blankets coming our way to give
to our patients in Volusia, Flagler and St.
John’s counties.” Large numbers of blankets
came from sewing groups at local churches
including Trinity Lutheran Church,
First Baptist Church and Sacred Heart
Church.f
Stephanie McAffee
Joni Nathanson
from page 3
• Pegasus is a pediatric support program providing medical, emotional and
spiritual care for infants, children, young adults (to age 21) and their families
who are faced with serious illness.
• Through generous donations from community members, Haven Hospice is
able to offer Healing Hearts—grief support and bereavement programs in
18 counties of North Florida as a free, community service.
• Camp Safe Haven offers special grief support experiences for children, teens
and families who are grieving the loss of a loved one, regardless of how that
loss occurred.
• Haven understands how important pets are to our patients, which is why
we encourage family pet visits at our care centers and offer volunteer pet
visits wherever your may call home. Haven also offers the Pet Peace of
Mind® program to help patients complete their end-of-life journey without
worrying about their pet’s current or future needs.
• A “thank you” is a simple gesture. Combine a “thank you” with Haven’s desire
to recognize, understand, care for and appreciate the unique needs of the
veterans of the United States Armed Forces and you have our “We Honor
Veterans Program.”
• What happens when a person has a serious or life-limiting illness but is not yet
ready for hospice care? At Haven, we believe everyone deserves companionship
through life’s journeys. Haven Transitions provides education and support
that can make a world of difference to someone facing a serious illness.
Mark Your
Calendar
Saturday, November 8 • Williston, FL
HOW LONG HAS THE HOSPICE BEEN
OPERATING IN THE COMMUNITY?
For more than 35 years Haven has had the honor and privilege to serve more
than 68,000 of our neighbors, friends and family members in North Florida.
HAS THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED ANY
NOTABLE RECOGNITION?
Since 1979, Haven has been committed to providing the highest quality care
possible. As a testament to that commitment, Haven received national recognition
as a Circle of Life Award Recipient from the American Hospital Association for its
excellence and innovation in 2008. Haven is one of only three hospices in the state
of Florida to ever win this prestigious award. Haven has also been recognized as a
Florida Pacesetter for its leadership in promoting advance directives.
CHOOSE WISELY
Choosing hospice services and a hospice care provider are both very important
decisions. Spending time researching and understanding the differences between
hospice organizations is important so that when this critical time does arrive,
individuals and families are able to make informed decisions. It is our mission
to honor life by providing comfort, care and compassion to those we serve, and
it is our vision to be the choice for end-of-life and palliative care through the
passionate pursuit of excellence and innovation. f
Saturday, October 25 • Palatka, FL
CAMP SAFE HAVEN
Overnight Camp for Teens
Friday, October 10 to Sunday, October 12
Keystone Heights, FL
Camp Immokalee
Please go to
www.havenhospice.org
to find out more information
on these events or to sign-up.
5
Become A Haven Heritage
Society Member
A BEQUEST IS A VERY FLEXIBLE
PLANNED GIFT AS WELL AS
A SIMPLE AND EASY WAY TO
SUPPORT THE MISSION OF A
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION
LIKE HAVEN.
✁
So many of the unique programs and
services offered by Haven Hospice are made
possible by the generous gifts we receive.
Many of these most helpful and impactful
gifts come from the estates of our donors
by way of charitable bequests. A bequest
is a very flexible planned gift as well as a
simple and easy way to support the mission
of a charitable organization like Haven. It is
simply a provision in a will or living trust
which directs the executor or trustee to
distribute part of your assets to a charity.
Donors who have included Haven in their
estate plans through a bequest or other
planned giving vehicle are recognized
as Haven Hospice Heritage Society
members. These individuals and families
have done, and will do, so much for
the patients and
families served
by Haven.
In 2013 alone, Haven received $557,186
from the estates of four donors. The gifts
ranged from a few hundred dollars to hundreds
of thousands of dollars and helped cover
almost 19 percent of the $2,990,183 Haven
spent last year on unreimbursed patient care,
family services and programs, community
and health professional education, and other
community support.
These gifts can help transform what Haven
is able to do and sometimes even how we are
able to do it.They are also wonderful legacies
for the donor and for Haven. The sadness is
that we didn’t know they were coming and
we didn’t get a chance to say “thank you” as
we sincerely want to do. If you have named
Haven in your will or trust, please let us know
so we can welcome you as a Heritage Society
member. We promise only to thank you as
warmly as possible for your thoughtfulness.
Or, if you are considering a planned gift,
such as a bequest, and would like to learn
more about how best to go about it, please
contact Michael Morse or Kelly Goad at
800.727.1889 or via email at devmail@
havenhospice.org. f
✁
PLEASE LET US KNOW
Please complete the information below and return to: Haven Hospice Development Department, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606.
Or contact us at 800.727.1889 or via email at [email protected].
r Please include me in the Heritage Society because I have made a charitable bequest in my will or living trust to benefit Haven Hospice.
r Please provide me with additional information about making a charitable bequest to benefit Haven Hospice.
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________ City: ___________________ State: _______Zip:_______
Phone: _______________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________
6
Thank you Haven Hospice event sponsor
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But they share a common enemy.
As an infant, Sydney Thomas was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Mark Atkinson has been working for more than 25 years developing
treatments to prevent – and even cure – diabetes. Dr. Atkinson’s work
at UF Health is shedding new light on Sydney’s disease. And it’s an
invisible connection that’s helping us move medicine forward.
UFHealth.org
7
is published by
Haven Hospice
4200 NW 90th Blvd.
Gainesville, Florida 32606
800-727-1889
Tim Bowen
President
NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
JACKSONVILLE, FL
PERMIT NO 2418
4200 NW 90th Blvd.
Gainesville, Florida 32606
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Michael Morse
Vice President of
Organizational Advancement
©2014 Haven Hospice
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