Gilchrist Kids` Pediatric Volunteers:

The Monthly Membership Publication of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
April 2014
Inside
From the Volunteer’s Perspective
Hospice volunteer, Jai Eileen Swyter,
recounts a connection she made with a
dementia patient in the most unexpected of
ways, reinforcing the importance of active
listening, patience, and compassion.
NCHPP Volunteer Management
Mentorship Program
The Steering Committee for the NCHPP
Volunteer/Volunteer Management Section
launched a Mentorship Program last June.
Learn more about this program and how to
benefit — as a mentee or mentor.
Short Takes
• Volunteer Conference Sessions
Now Available on E-OL
• NHDD Now 7 Years Strong
• Help an Exemplary Volunteer
Get National Recognition
Gilchrist Kids’
Pediatric Volunteers:
A Message From Don
Gaining as Much as They Give
Member News
By Deborah Geffen Jones, NCBF
Compliance Tip
Links to Resources
on the NHPCO Website
A Feel-Good Moment!
News From NHF
H
ospice volunteers have been known to inspire all of us at different
times and through different experiences. Among the most inspiring,
however, are the volunteers who can rock an infant to sleep or sing to a
toddler, knowing the child will die very soon, or the volunteers who spend
countless hours at play with the siblings of a dying teenager to help engage
and distract them.
As the volunteer services manager for Gilchrist Hospice Care, I have had
the privilege of working with these pediatric volunteers since July of 2010,
when our program, Gilchrist Kids, was launched.
In this article, I share the many ways they support the program and
the specific training that prepares them for it. But I also
share some of their honest and heartfelt feedback
on doing this emotionally charged work.
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continued from previous page
Gilchrist Kids offers a full range of hospice
interdisciplinary services to terminally
ill infants, children and teens in central
Maryland, involving all members of the
hospice team: nurses, social workers, child-life
specialists, chaplains, bereavement counselors
and volunteers.
Our pediatric volunteers have worked in the
Gilchrist Kids program since its inception and,
today, we have 35 who support patients and
families in a variety of ways:
• Providing companionship to the patient
• Supporting the caregiver and lending assistance with chores, pets, etc.
• O
ffering complementary therapies, such as pet therapy, Reiki, or
gentle ‘Caring Touch’ massage
• Playing or singing music at the patient’s bedside
• Supporting the patients’ siblings
• Doing hands-on care, including cradling or rocking
• Helping with memorial service planning
• Supporting other members of the interdisciplinary team
• Collaborating with child-life specialists
• ‘Being there’ during the patient’s last hours.
These volunteers share the same overarching goal of every other member
of the Gilchrist team: To make each child’s comfort and care a priority
while providing family and friends with the emotional and spiritual
support they need during this most difficult time.
“I could not do the work I do without our compassionate volunteers,”
says the Gilchrist Kids team manager, Holly Herring. “There have been
countless times that a family has needed a meal prepared, someone to read
a book to their child, provide a gentle massage through Caring Touch, or
just someone to sit and be a friend, and our volunteers do that graciously.”
continued on page 4
2NHPCO NewsLine
The Positives in Part D
O
n March 11, NHPCO released a Regulatory Alert detailing CMS’s
final guidance on “Hospice and Medicare Part D” — along with
a Compliance Guide that discusses specific steps that hospices
should take to meet the new regulation. If you haven’t yet reviewed the
Guide, I urge you to do so now, and save the PDF for future reference.
Certainly, the Part D issue has been time-consuming, difficult, and very
upsetting for all of us since it arose last year. What I want to reinforce
here, however, is that your feedback made a tangible difference.
We appreciated the information that many members provided during
meetings, conference calls and via email, particularly medical directors,
and members of the Quality and Standards Committee and the NCHPP
Pharmacist Section. This information was included in our formal
Comment Letter to CMS on January 10. But, additionally, we shared your
feedback in a range of other ongoing discussions — with CMS officials,
Congressional supporters on Capitol Hill, and in my personal meetings
with CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.
As we focus attention on what must now be done to meet the new regulation,
please recognize that the four key things we asked for were indeed granted:
1. More time to implement the guidance
2. Beneficiary-level prior authorization
3. A uniform process (and document) for prior authorizations
4.Deference to the hospice (via the hospice physician) to determine
drug relatedness.
CMS has either put into place or started a mechanism to ensure these
requests are addressed. Note too that Part D plans (per CMS direction)
will not attempt to recoup any drug payments made in 2013 or through
April 30 of this year.
As we look ahead, NHPCO is clearly concerned about the toll this
regulation will take on hospices, their staffs, and on patients and families.
I also expect that further battles may be in store on the larger issue of drug
relatedness. But, right now, it’s important to recognize that compromises
were made — and were brought about by our collective efforts.
Last but not least, it was a pleasure seeing many members at MLC in late
March. With the demands at home, I was appreciative of this time together.
J. Donald Schumacher, PsyD
President/CEO
NHPCO NewsLine
3
continued from page 2
How We Prepare Them
In many cases, our pediatric volunteers have experienced
the death of a child themselves, so they bring to their role
a special compassion, a comforting presence and deep
understanding — all of which help our families gain the
confidence they need to care for and support their own
children. However, all of our pediatric volunteers are
screened to meet specific qualifications and must also attend
pediatric-specific training.
Our Screening Criteria:
Some of the criteria is specific to our pediatric volunteers,
while some apply to all volunteers:
They must support the hospice philosophy:
Volunteers must recognize that dying is part of the natural
cycle of life and that hospice is life affirming, providing as
much quality of life as the disease allows.
They have to have worked through their own losses:
If individuals have experienced the loss of a child, they must
wait two years before volunteering in the pediatric program.
They need a high level of self-comfort in dealing with death and dying
issues with the youngest hospice patients:
Volunteers must not only embrace the hospice philosophy, but
understand they will be supporting young people of all ages, from
newborns to young adults.
They must be non-judgmental:
Volunteers need to be respectful of diverse cultures, races, faiths and
lifestyles. In addition, they must be accepting of a wide range of coping
strategies, and various degrees of education among patients and families.
4NHPCO NewsLine
They must take the general hospice volunteer orientation:
Volunteers must complete the basic hospice orientation program before
being considered for pediatric training.
They must be able to demonstrate
good listening, communication,
and organizational skills:
Volunteers must be able to “meet”
the patient and family wherever
they are by understanding
that everyone has their own
distinctive communication styles
and boundaries. Volunteers need
to fully understand what active
listening means, even without a
word being said.
They must be flexible and
dependable:
Volunteers must work
competently and be committed to
the work through various degrees
of supervision.
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NHPCO NewsLine
5
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The Training Requirements:
Once volunteers meet the above qualifications, they are expected to
take Gilchrist’s pediatric volunteer training. The training includes the
following 13 components which are covered in 10 hours over a course
of three sessions:
1.Introduction to Pediatric
Hospice Care
Addresses the differences
between hospice care for
children and adults.
2.Complex Needs of the
Pediatric Patient
Addresses the various issues
that arise in this young
population.
3.Causes of Childhood Deaths
Defines the various types of
terminal illnesses in children
versus adults.
4.Patient and Family Rights in
Terminal Care
Addresses legal and ethical
issues specific to pediatric care.
5.Developmental Stages and
Needs of Children and Death
Concepts
Defines the different degrees of
cognitive development and the
death concepts at various ages.
6.Facts about Childhood Pain:
Myths Related to Neonatal and
Infant Pain
Defines how pain is managed
for the pediatric patient.
6NHPCO NewsLine
7. Complementary Therapies
Discusses the various therapies
that help address various
symptoms including pain.
8. Patient and Family Education
Covers the various ways to help
educate the patient and family.
9.Spiritual and Cultural
Considerations
Defines and reviews the
components of various faith
and cultural communities.
10.Factors Influencing
Communication Styles
Defines how children
communicate and how to
develop strong listening skills.
11. Death Vigil
Defines how end-of-life doulas
can be a supportive presence.
12.Boundaries
Defines the importance of
boundaries and the ways to
maintain them.
13.Bereavement
Defines how bereavement
supports the parents and
extended family.
A Spiritual Time
Pediatric volunteers often tell of the profound ways these youngest of
patients touch their hearts and souls.
After having rocked a dying infant, a Gilchrist Kids volunteer wrote:
“Participating in the beginning and at the end of someone’s life is very
spiritual. Rocking the baby made it very clear…the awe of the newborn
and the awe of dying at the same time. It was magical, inspiring and
very profound.”
Another volunteer wrote of her experience in companioning an eightyear-old girl: “It was an honor to be part of her care. I will always
remember her big beautiful eyes and her smile and the way her face lit up
when I sang ‘You Are My Sunshine.’ It was an experience that I will never
forget. She truly touched my heart.”
These individuals who donate their time and their talents tell us
how much they receive from doing this work. They tell us they are
continually reminded of the complexities of life and death — and all
the unanswerable questions in between. They believe that being with a
pediatric hospice patient is a spiritual time, and find strength, wisdom
and beauty from the experience when they are able to put all judgments
aside and simply be in the moment with the patient and family.
They find strength,
wisdom and
beauty from the
experience…
“We are truly grateful to have such a strong group of volunteers caring
for our youngest patients and the loved ones they will leave behind,” said
Gilchrist’s director of clinical services, Regina Bodnar. “Every day, Gilchrist
staff is in awe of the hours they dedicate and all they contribute.”
As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Everyone can be great,
because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul
generated by love.”
Deborah Geffen Jones was one of the founding employees of Gilchrist
Hospice Care, the largest hospice organization in the state of Maryland.
She currently holds the position of volunteer services manager, a job she
accepted after more than a decade spent developing the organization’s
bereavement program and serving as a bereavement counselor. She is also
an experienced community educator and frequent presenter at both local
and national conferences as well as the author of several educational
publications. She can be reached at [email protected].
NHPCO NewsLine
7
Since 2009, Jai Eileen Swyter has served as a volunteer in the palliative care and
hospice program at Goodwin House, a continuous care retirement
community in the Washington metropolitan area.
She earned her PhD in medical anthropology and bioethics, and her professional
career included work with dialysis patients. As part of this work, she was developing
hospice concepts long before hospice had found its way to this country, and also had
the opportunity to train with Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross who deeply inspired her. Now,
in being a hospice volunteer, she has been able to resume one of her life’s passions.
In this article, she recounts a connection she made with a dementia patient, one that
reinforces the importance of active listening, patience, and compassion.
Dementia and the
Hospice Volunteer:
AN ALTERNATE WAY
TO CONNECT
By Jai Eileen Swyter, PhD
8NHPCO NewsLine
t is well known that people
with dementia respond to
pictures of themselves or family,
or to photographs of places they
have lived or known. This is
an account of a person with
advanced dementia
and her response
to pictures she had
never seen before.
Ann B (not her real
name) was a woman
in her nineties
referred to hospice care
for “failure to thrive.” I was
the hospice volunteer assigned
to visit her. Ann’s dementia was
at the point where ordinary
conversation was difficult. She
responded to my questions with
short, mostly understandable
comments. When she initiated
conversation she would manage
only a few words before she lost
her thought, stopped, then put
her head down in frustration.
Often everything she tried to say
was unintelligible.
During our visits I noticed
she stared intently at
the Northwest Coast
Indian jewelry I enjoy
collecting and wearing.
I could not tell if she
was attracted to its
unusual design or
simply its silvery shine.
On impulse one day I took
an exhibit catalog of Northwest
Coast Indian artifacts with me,
thinking she might enjoy seeing
other things made by these
people.
Photo of Northwest Coast Indian medallion: Mirela Turko
I
Ann’s dementia
was at a point where
ordinary conversation
was difficult…
We explored the book together.
I described what she was seeing
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NHPCO NewsLine
9
continued from previous page
as in “This is a dance mask of a bear.
You can see its little ears and sharp
teeth. The dancer
puts this on his head
and moves like a bear...”
Ann studied each picture
thoughtfully as we slowly
worked our way through
the book, enjoying each
artifact in turn. She
stayed focused and
engaged about 30
minutes each time —
which was long for
her.
Ann grew up on a small
tobacco farm in the South. I grew
up in a rural part of Washington
State, 90 miles north of Seattle, but
not on a farm. My next
offering was a book of
photographs from this rural
area, thinking Ann might
enjoy pictures of farm life.
With a picture in front of
her, Ann could tell me about
her farm. Her speech was
coherent and intelligible.
While her sentences were
simple, she never lost
her train of thought. She
correctly identified various
crops, the ones she liked
best and whether or not they
grew on her farm. She pointed
out equipment that indicated a
10NHPCO NewsLine
commercial farm (which hers was
not) and responded warmly to a
picture of a horse-drawn plough.
With an unfamiliar picture “out
there” as a “prompt” or reminder, she
was able to talk easily. Without it, she
lost her thoughts or responded with
one or two words to my questions.
A Northwest Coast Indian teaching
story from Haida Gwaii, Frog Girl
by Paul Owen Lewis, was my next
selection. The illustrations were
extraordinary and carried the story
with little need for text. I was curious
if Ann would understand this book
as a story or as individual pictures on
each page. While she could still read,
I chose to tell her the story, pointing
out details in the illustrations that
were mentioned in the story. Ann’s
attention was focused, her comments
clear and appropriate. When water in
a lake was being lifted up so humans
could go to the land beneath the
water, she was astonished. “I’ve never
heard of such a thing,” she said.
When we got to the end she said,
“That was an amazing story,” and
wanted to go through it again.
As a young woman, Ann flew a small
single-engine airplane for pleasure.
When I asked what places she had
flown to, she could not name any.
When I brought a map of southern
states she could easily tell me what
cities and towns she visited, the
quality of their airports (mostly
grassy fields) and the difficulties
of landing or taking off from
each. Without the map as a
“prompt,” this information was
not accessible to her.
When I asked Ann if she liked
these books and maps I brought,
she responded with enthusiasm.
“Oh yes! They are so different.”
“Different” I could do and we
continued to explore a variety of
books. She had always possessed
a curious mind and this approach
seemed to tap into it, connecting
with a still fairly functional part.
For a final example, I knew Ann
worked for a while in India,
so I brought a book on Asian
sacred places. While she did not
recognize the various temples and
shrines, she did see sari-wearing
women in some of the pictures.
She then told a humorous story of
her efforts to get dressed in a sari
and to keep it properly in place
during the day. Had I asked her
directly if she ever wore a sari, I
would have gotten a one- or twoword response without the detail
and humor of her experience.
After about seven months this
connection slowly faded until
books became overwhelming
and so we stopped. But the deep
companionable relationship we
forged during our “book time”
continued even as her condition
deteriorated. As she neared death,
I thanked her for letting me share
this last part of her life’s journey.
I told her how much I enjoyed my
visits with her and spoke of the
“different” books we had explored
together. She listened intently,
nodded silently in agreement,
reached for my hand (a difficult
movement for her), raised it to
her lips, and kissed it. It felt like a
thank you and a goodbye.
At this writing, I have not tried this
approach with any other person
with dementia. It may be unique
to Ann B. But I hope this account
will inspire other volunteers to
try this way of connecting when
conversation falters.
It felt like
a thank you and
a goodbye…
The author extends special
thanks to Ann B’s family for their
kind permission to share this
experience.
For Further Reading:
While circulating a draft of this
paper for comment, I was directed
to the website of Naomi Feil, MSW,
ACSW. The website describes her
theory and method of validation
and her extensive research. My
experience with Ann B fits well
with Feil’s, and strongly suggests
my approach will work for others
with dementia.
NHPCO NewsLine
11
From the NCHPP Volunteer/Volunteer Management Section*
The A
Volunteer
Management
Mentorship
Program
s we look back on 40
years of hospice care
in America, we can do
so with great pride. There are
now several thousand hospice
programs, many of which were
launched by groups of passionate
volunteers who wanted to apply
the principles of Dame Cicely
Saunders to care of the dying in
this country.
But the hospice landscape of
today is a much different one.
As the NCHPP CEO/Executive
Director/President Section has
observed:
By Kathy Ising, CAVS
he need for hospice care is
• T
only going to increase in the
coming decades
egulation and reimbursement
• R
issues are growing ever more
complex, and
ew and well-prepared
• N
leaders are needed as hospice’s
visionary leaders retire.
In response to these emerging
issues, the Steering Committee
for the NCHPP CEO/Executive
Director/President Section
created a CEO Mentoring Project
in 2008.
The Project defines “mentoring”
as “a collaborative, supportive,
goal directed relationship
that enhances the mentee’s
competence in performing the
responsibilities of his/her job and
advances his/her professional
growth and development.”
Further, it matches and connects
experienced hospice leaders
(mentors) with new hospice
professionals (mentees) to
meet the mentees’ needs for
information and support, and to
assist them in their professional
development.
The success of the CEO
Mentoring Project has
encouraged other NCHPP
Sections to develop their own
mentoring programs. Led
by their respective Steering
Committees, the NCHPP QAPI
and Bereavement Professional
Sections have each formed
mentoring programs, and in
2013, the Volunteer/Volunteer
Management Section also
followed suit.
*The National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals (NCHPP) is comprised of 15 discipline-specific
sections that represent the staff and volunteers who work for NHPCO provider-members. To learn more about
this NCHPP Section, visit the NHPCO website.
12NHPCO NewsLine
Why a Mentoring Program
for Volunteer Managers?
Volunteer directors, managers
and coordinators are accountable
for a workforce that is not only
essential and valuable in a climate
of decreasing reimbursements and
market competition, but is also
mandated by Medicare. In fact,
the management of volunteers in
a hospice setting differs from all
other health care settings, largely
because of the Medicare mandate.
Per Regulation 418.78 of the
Medicare Hospice Conditions
of Participation, hospices are
required to incorporate volunteer
services into daily patient care
and routine operations. This
requirement — along with the
requirement that volunteer hours
equal or exceed 5 percent of
the total patient care hours of
all paid employees and contract
staff — serves to ensure that
hospice programs fully integrate
volunteers into the organization.
The Medicare regulations also
impact many other areas of
volunteer management, including
the content of volunteer training
and orientation; the tracking of
volunteer health requirements,
such as TB tests and flu shots;
and volunteer updates to the
patient’s plan of care.
In addition to making sure their
organizations are compliant in
these areas, volunteer managers
must also search for best
practices in the implementation
of their programs. Looking at the
“big picture,” they must be able
to discern how to best retain and
support hospice volunteers in
work that is deeply meaningful
and brings with it the experience
of loss and suffering.
Another challenge
is the varied
experience of hospice
volunteer managers.
Unlike nursing and
psychosocial staff,
volunteer managers
come from a variety
of backgrounds
that, while valuable,
don’t always prepare
them for the range
of skills they need to
effectively manage a
volunteer program.
At Hosparus, for
example, members
of our volunteer
team have previous
experience in church
and nursing home
administration,
teaching, and nonprofit
management.
Not Yet Familiar
With NCHPP?
NHPCO’s National Council of Hospice
and Palliative Professionals (NCHPP)
is an interdisciplinary-focused forum
that supports NHPCO members in
their work.
Fifteen discipline-specific sections
comprise NCHPP, and each offers
a variety of resources, education
and networking opportunities,
such as the Mentorship Programs
described in this article, monthly
conference calls, networking through
My.NHPCO, and more.
As an NHPCO member, be sure to
join the Section (or Sections) related
to your discipline. It’s a benefit of
membership!
To learn more, visit NCHPP on the
NHPCO website.
Oftentimes, the hospice volunteer
manager is a one-person team,
with no collegial support to assist
them in managing the volunteer
workforce.
continued on next page
NHPCO NewsLine
13
continued from previous page
A Closer Look at the
Program
With assistance from NHPCO
staff, the Steering Committee for
the NCHPP Volunteer/Volunteer
Management Section, led by
Section Leader Sandi Huster,
designed and implemented the
Section’s Mentoring Program.
The committee members
developed the program
description, topics and resources
for the mentors and mentees, and
the application requirements.
They also collaborated with
the other Sections which have
mentoring programs, and created
measurements for program
evaluation.
After many emails, conference
calls and hours of work,
the Mentoring Program
was announced to potential
participants in March of 2013.
After an ad-hoc group of
committee members assumed
the task of reviewing and
matching mentors and mentees,
the program was officially
launched in June of 2013— with
an orientation for the initial 15
mentors and 17 mentees. (Two
mentors generously agreed to
take on an additional mentee.)
14NHPCO NewsLine
How It Works:
The program calls for a six-month
commitment, with an option of
extending it to one year.
Mentors are matched with
mentees based on how well
their strengths align with the
mentees’ needs.
In addition, the program seeks
to match people from similar
organizations, based on agency
size, type, and incorporation, as
well as other factors.
At the start of the program, the
mentees identify three goals they
want to achieve, and receive
guidance and support from
the mentor through a monthly
phone call and ongoing e-mail
communication.
The participants also agree
to give feedback on their
experiences at the end of three
months, and at the conclusion of
the program.
The Initial Feedback
The first group of mentees
completed the program in
November of 2013, and feedback
from both the mentees and
mentors was quite positive.
When asked what was going
well, mentees reported:
“Collegial exchange with my
mentor is fantastic...and I
am learning approaches I
would not consider if not for
his input.”
“Lots of great ideas [and]
suggestions for efficiency.”
“My mentor has given me
great advice and options.”
“Knowing there is someone
with more knowledge
and experience in hospice
volunteer management
available for consult.”
Mentors shared the following:
“My mentee and I seem
to communicate well,
and I think that we are
both benefitting from the
experience.”
“I have been able to share
some new ideas with my
mentee, and her hospice is
implementing them. I think
the Steering Committee has
done a great job setting up
the program.”
“I feel like I have helped my
mentee be more confident.”
“I have found the working
relationship with my
mentees to be a source of
renewed creative energy.”
When the Steering Committee
asked participants to suggest
ways in which the program could
be improved, many suggested
“more time together,” ideally faceto-face meetings.
Lastly, all 32 participants said
they would recommend the
program to others.
Looking Ahead
The Steering Committee launched
a new group of mentors/
mentees in February, and the 18
participants (9 mentees/
9 mentors) will complete the
program in July.
The application period for the
program is now closed, but will
reopen in June. An invitation to
apply will be announced through
My.NHPCO, with mentor and
mentee applications due by July 1.
Kathy Ising is a certified
administrator of volunteer services
and a member of the NCHPP
Volunteer/Volunteer Management
Steering Committee. A former
hospice volunteer, Kathy joined
Hosparus in 2009 and currently
serves as the volunteer manager
for special programs.
Learn More:
Visit the Section’s
Mentorship
Program webpage
on the NHPCO
website.
Helpful Resources:
NHPCO Hospice Volunteer Program Resource Manual
Regulatory Resources for Volunteer Managers
The Volunteer Regulations Revisited
Volunteer 5% Cost Savings Information Sheet
For additional resources, visit the Regulatory Center of the NHPCO website.
NHPCO NewsLine
15
Short Takes
Volunteer Virtual Conference Sessions
Now Available on E-OL
Fourteen sessions presented at the 2012 Volunteer Leadership Virtual Conference are now available as online
offerings through NHPCO’s EO-L.
For just $105 per offering, members can share the valuable insights and guidance at team meetings or at
more casual brown bags. It’s an affordable way to bring teams together and encourage both personal and
professional development.
So What Am I Supposed to Do? Working
With Non-communicative Patients/Families
Religion and Spirituality at the End of Life
Surviving Ourselves — Change, Loss and
Self-compassion
Hospice Volunteer Training: Increasing the
Effectiveness of Your Training Program
From Compassion Fatigue to Compassion
Satisfaction
Dotted Lines, Curbs and Guardrails –
Boundaries for Volunteers
E xtraordinary Ideas to Kindle Your Volunteer
Program Today
Engaging with Faith: Multiplying Volunteers
Through Effective Faith Community Outreach
Beyond the Medicare Benefit: Leading
Hospice Volunteer Programs the Hospice Way
Raising Your Ethical Antennae
Complementary Therapies: Designing,
Funding, Training and Integrating a Volunteer
Program into Your Hospice Services
Facebook, Email & Blogging: Getting and
Keeping Volunteers
Reminiscence: A Valuable Resource for
Bereavement and Long Term Care Planning
A Single Mustard Seed: Contemplative
Approaches to Grief and Loss
Use the links provided to learn more about each offering, and follow the prompts to register and purchase one or
more. You will then receive a confirmation of your order, with a link to access the offerings from the E-OL website.
Questions?
Contact the NHPCO Solutions Center at 800-646-6460 (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., EDT, Monday through Friday).
Short Takes continued on page 18
16NHPCO NewsLine
Volunteers!
NHPCO NewsLine
17
Short Takes continued from page 16
NHDD:
Now 7 Years Strong
Wednesday, April 16, marks the seventh annual National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day to inspire, educate
and empower both the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.
NHPCO applauds the many organizations which are doing their part to raise awareness, especially those like
Alive Hospice in Nashville, TN which, through its Gift Initiative, is raising awareness throughout the year.
Findings from a study, just published in the
January 2014 edition of The American Journal of
Preventive Medicine, is also incentive to keep up the
momentum.
The study analyzed data from more than 7,900
respondents to a HealthStyles survey, a mail panel
survey designed to be representative of the U.S.
population, and found that only 26.3 percent of
survey respondents had an advance directive. Lack
of awareness was cited as the most common reason
a person did not have one.
For members not yet involved in NHDD, visit
www.nhdd.org for information — and help raise
awareness of April 16 in your social media.
To learn more about the study, see the NHPCO
press release.
Reminder
Advance directives for every state are available on the website of NHPCO’s Caring
Connections. Individuals may download single copies free of charge. Organizations that
wish to download and distribute multiple copies should contact Caring Connections via
phone (800-658-8898) or email ([email protected]).
18NHPCO NewsLine
Help an Exemplary Volunteer
Get National Recognition
Each year, NHPCO’s National Council of Hospice and Palliative
Professionals presents three awards to honor hospice volunteers who
have demonstrated considerable commitment in terms of time, length of
service and their assumed responsibilities.
The awards are presented in three categories to honor patient and family
service, organizational support, and teen service.
Nominations can be made online, beginning in early summer, and the awards
will be presented at the 2014 Clinical Team Conference in Nashville, TN.
Please begin thinking about the volunteers in your organization who
deserve this national recognition — and bookmark the Awards webpage
for future reference: www.nhpco.org/volunteer-awards.
For a look at last year’s winners, see November NewsLine.
Awards are
presented in three
categories…
Opal Phillips, recipient of
the 2013 volunteer award for
organizational support.
NHPCO NewsLine
19
Member News and Notes
Senator John Boozeman Gets Insights
on Challenges Facing Providers
Pat Ahern Named CEO
of The Center for Hospice
& Palliative Care
Patricia Ahern, RN, MBA,
FACHE, has been named the
new CEO of The Center for
Hospice & Palliative Care
(Cheektowaga, NY).
U.S. Senator John Boozeman, a long-time supporter
of hospice in Arkansas, toured the Circle of Life
Hospice Home at Legacy Village (Bentonville, AR)
in February. As part of the tour, he met with CEO,
Mary McKinney, and members of her executive
team, who discussed a range of regulatory and
reimbursement concerns affecting the entire
hospice community.
Kathy Davis Receives
ELNEC Trainer of the
Year Award
Kathy Davis, PhD, RN, was one
of only 12 ELNEC trainers to
receive the ELNEC Trainer of
the Year Award in recognition
of her commitment to improve
palliative care within her
institution and community.
Davis has provided care to children and families
at the University of Kansas Medical Center,
Department of Pediatrics, for over 30 years, first
as a pediatric school teacher and more recently as
the director of pediatric palliative care. She is also
an active member of NHPCO, serving as co-leader
of the Children’s Project on Palliative/Hospice
Services and as faculty for NHPCO’s pediatrics
training. In addition, she serves on the NHPCO
Ethics Advisory Council.
20NHPCO NewsLine
Ahern brings 30 years of health care experience to
the program, having worked in both the acute care
hospital and end-of-life care settings. Most recently,
she served as president/CEO of Rainbow Hospice
and Palliative Care in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Hospice Volunteer, O.J. Metzgar,
Receives Patriotism Award
O.J. Metzgar, a
volunteer with
Hospice of the
Plains (Wray,
CO), has received
the American
Legion’s
Patriotism Award
for his exemplary
service as part of
the hospice’s Veteran Support Unit.
Members of this unit support Veteran patients
in a variety of ways, including “Certificate of
Appreciation” presentations to recognize their
military service. Metzgar was also commended
for his work in rescuing military memorabilia and
establishing a military museum room at the Brush
Museum and Cultural Center.
Hospice of the Plains is currently a recruit in
NHPCO’s We Honor Veterans program.
ADVOCACY INTENSIVE
6•1 6-1 7 •2014
THE NHPCO HAN
Join us on Capitol Hill
for this FREE two-day
Advocacy Experience!
The Hospice Action Network’s Advocacy Intensive is the
hospice community’s chance to impart the value of hospice
to our lawmakers, and for Hospice Advocates to help protect
access to critical hospice services. This two-day event focuses
on bringing the hospice story to Capitol Hill, and on educating
the hospice community on the policy challenges we face, and
how we can advocate for our services, and the patients and
families we serve.
For more information and to register,
visit www.hospiceactionnetwork.org/intensive.
Supported in part by:
NHPCO NewsLine
21
Tip of the Month
Part D Compliance:
Where Do You Begin?
O
n March 10, 2014, CMS issued
final guidance on “Hospice and
Medicare Part D,” as NHPCO
shared in a Regulatory Alert.
Per the CMS guidance, hospices
will be required to complete a prior
authorization with Part D plans for all
medications unrelated to the patient’s
terminal illness and related conditions.
To help providers prepare to respond
to the prior authorization requirement,
NHPCO also prepared a Compliance
Guide, with details on nine key steps to
take during the admission process:
7.Inform the patient or his/her
representatives of liability and
possible ABN
8.Inform the patient or his/her
representative of appeal rights
9.Contact the patient’s attending
physician or other prescribers.
In addition to providing details on the
above steps, the Guide also includes
a suggested process for reviewing a
patient’s medications once he or she
elects hospice,
as well as areas
affected by the
new regulation.
Compliance Guide
National Hospice and
Palliative Care Organization
Regulatory & Compliance
www.nhpco.org/regulatory
Incorporating Medicare
Part D into the Hospice
Admissions
And Medication Managem
ent Process
Compliance for Hospice
March 2014
Providers
Hospice and Part D
CMS issued final guidance
on Part D and hospice
on March 10, 2014.
change admission and
This final guidance will
medication management
processes in every hospice
Medicare beneficiaries.
that cares for
This Compliance Guide
provides hospice organizations
with tools and suggested
that will assist in compliance
language
with the Part D and
hospice guidance.
1.Add appropriate language to the
patient admission packet (sample
language is provided)
2.Determine the patient’s Part D coverage
and identify his/her Part D plan
3.Describe the process to patients,
representatives and families
4.File the Notice of Election as soon
as possible
5.Proactively contact the Part D plan
immediately upon admission
6.Review all of the patient’s medications
22NHPCO NewsLine
Federal regulations at
42 CFR § 418.202(f) stipulate
that the Medicare Hospice
only drugs and biologicals
Benefit covers
used primarily for the
relief of pain and symptom
terminal illness and related
control for the
conditions (the term
“drugs and biologicals”
1861(t) of the Social
is defined in section
Security Act).
Download the
Compliance
Guide now.
The recently finalized
(March 2014) CMS guidance
on Part D and hospice
providers to adjust their
will require hospice
admission and medication
management processes
beneficiaries. Effective
for Medicare
May 1, 2014, Part D plan
sponsors are required
drugs billed to Part D
to reject all prescription
for beneficiaries who
have elected the hospice
hospice notifies the
benefit unless or until
Part D plan, through
the
a prior authorization
unrelated to the terminal
process, that the medication
illness or related conditions.
is
Once the plan sponsor
authorization for drugs
processes the prior
unrelated to the terminal
illness, Part D will process
will be responsible if
the claim. The hospice
the drug is related to
the terminal illness or
beneficiary may be
related conditions, or
financially responsible
the
if
the drug is related to
hospice has determined
the terminal illness but
that it is not medically
the
necessary. The hospice
collect during the admission
will have new data
process, and increased
to
documentation requirements
determination of relatedness
for the
and the completion
of the prior authorization
forms.
Suggestions for hospice
provider admission process
when a patient has Part
coverage
D
1. Patient Admission
Packet… Add language
to your patient admission
that the hospice provider
materials that states
is required to review
all medications when
the Medicare Hospice
the patient elects
Benefit.
Sample language:
As hospice providers,
we need to meet the
rules that the Centers
and Medicaid (CMS)
for Medicare
set for us. As of May
1, 2014, if you have
Medicare Part D
© National Hospice
and
Palliative Care Organization,
March 2014
Page 1
Updates Based on
Your Feedback:
As hospices begin making
preparatory changes to their
processes, NHPCO recognizes that
additional questions and concerns
will arise. Please relay your
feedback to [email protected]
— noting “Part D Communication
Issues.” The Guide will be updated
accordingly.
How can being an NHPCO Member save you money...
NHPCO’s
AFFINITY PROGRAM
NHPCO members, their employees and volunteers can
utilize exclusive benefits with partner programs to:
w Enhance your NHPCO membership investment
w Get discounted prices on products and services
with partnering programs
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Affinity Program Parnters:
For more information: www.nhpco.org/affinity
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Advertisement
HEALTHCARE
HEALTHCARE CONSULTANTS
CONSULTANTS
A Feel-Good Moment
Links to Some
Resources on the
NHPCO Website
Quality and Regulatory
Quality Reporting
Requirements
QAPI Resources
Regulatory Center
Home Page
Fraud and Abuse
Past Regulatory Alerts
and Roundups
Staffing Guidelines
“Trailing Vines of Hope”
Wanda Chiles has donated her time to the volunteer organization,
Friends With Flowers of Kentucky, for the past six years. “We have
arranged over 7,000 vases of fresh flowers and have delivered them each
week to hospice patients in Georgetown and Scott Counties,” she said.
This photo is of a notecard the volunteers received from a family
member of a hospice patient. Inside the card, the person wrote: “When
you think the whole world has fallen in on you, mere strangers appear
and extend kindness and compassion.”
Wanda photographed the note card as a reminder to the volunteer team of
the precious gift they are indeed providing. It was submitted to NHPCO’s
2013 Creative Arts Contest by Hospice of the Bluegrass in Lexington, KY.
1731 King Street, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22314
703/837-1500
www.nhpco.org • www.caringinfo.org
NewsLine is a publication of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications............................................. Anita Brikman
Vice President, Strategic Communications............................................................. Jon Radulovic
Editor.......................................................................................................................................... Sue Canuteson
Advertising Inquiries............................................................................ Karen Proffitt, 703/837-1500
Membership Inquiries.......................................................................................................... 800/646-6460
All past issues of NewsLine are posted online: www.nhpco.org/newsline.
Copyright © 2014, NHPCO and its licensors. All rights reserved. NHPCO does not endorse the products
and services advertised in this publication.
Affiliates:
Standards of Practice
State-specific Resources
Quality Partners
Self-Assessment System
Outreach
2013–14 Outreach
Materials
Social Media Resources
LIVE Without Pain
Resources
Professional Education
Education Home Page
2014 Webinar Schedule
Upcoming Conferences
End-of-Life Online
Pediatric Palliative Care
Publications
Weekly NewsBriefs
Monthly NewsLine
ChiPPS Newsletter
SPRING
2014
• CONTENTS
NHF Donor and Hospice Volunteer
Makes a Difference; page 1
We Honor Veterans Welcomes Two
New Community Partners; page 2
Honor, Remember, Invest: The Tribute
Project Well Underway; page 3
Running for a Cause; page 3
“I chose to give NHF a
monthly gift because I
believe in the dignity
that hospice and
palliative care provide.”
FHSSA is Going Global; page 4
2014 NHF Gala Raises Funds to
Support Global Partners in Care
(Formally FHSSA); page 5
Mercedes Ibarra
NHF Donor and Hospice Volunteer Makes
a Difference
Mercedes Ibarra shares why she
supports the hospice mission
Mercedes Ibarra is a true hospice champion
and her support of hospice work is evident
in her actions. In addition to giving monthly
to the National Hospice Foundation, she
also gives of her time volunteering with a
hospice provider in Los Angeles, California.
Ibarra is a professional Flamenco dancer. In
one month, she lost three family members
and found powerful healing in her life’s
passion - Flamenco’s transformational,
empowering lyrics and movement. Along
with her passion to dance, Ibarra embarked
on another life-changing experience
involving hospice care. From a January 2014
blog post she writes:
In January [2013], I decided to volunteer
for hospice. The decision to go into
hospice work was very intuitive. A
combination of several recent deaths in
our family, reading The Tibetan Book of
Living and Dying, and a series of dreams
(yes, dreams) led me to feeling like I was
being called to hospice work. I am so
glad and grateful that I was ready to
respond. I have three patients I see
regularly, plus a woman who is no longer
a patient (her health improved), but is
now my friend. I have learned so much
about myself, people, relationships, fear,
and love through this work. I now cannot
imagine my life without it. In fact, I am
now looking into how I can make it my
life’s work along with Flamenco.
A newsletter of the National Hospice Foundation
|
Spring 2014
Ibarra calls her volunteer work with hospice
a blessing. “I feel I have developed such
intimate relationships with my hospice
patients, even though they sometimes can
barely speak to me. They have made me
realize not to take any moment for
granted,” she says.
The NHF Monthly Giving program in which
Ibarra participates, allows donors to make
a monthly gift to help make a difference in
the lives of patients and their families. As a
national organization, NHF funds programs
and special initiatives that have a powerful
impact on hospice and palliative care
across the country.
“I chose to give NHF a monthly gift because
I believe in the dignity that hospice and
palliative care provide,” she says. “Dying is
the most important milestone we will all face
one day. I think everyone deserves
compassion, care, and respect during that
time and a chance to die as comfortable
and supported as possible.”
1
We Honor Veterans Welcomes
Two New Community Partners
Genesis HealthCare and Extendicare join the
cause to help support Veterans and their families
We Honor Veterans (WHV), a program of NHF’s affiliate the National Hospice and Palliative Care
Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, is helping thousands of
professionals across America enhance their skills to meet the needs of Veterans. Originally
designed for hospice providers, WHV has created a new ‘Community Partner’ opportunity for
other community-based health care organizations providing direct care for seriously ill Veterans
and their families. By joining WHV, Community Partners commit to providing the highest quality
support to Veterans and their families through a potential four level distinction based on the level
of involvement around Veteran education and interaction with Veterans by each location.
alone. Extendicare offers a range of services
that include nursing care and medical specialty
services on an inpatient and outpatient basis.
These specialty services include sub-acute care
and rehabilitative therapy.
Every Veterans Day the Recreation Department at Heritage Hall
East, a Genesis HealthCare center in Massachusetts, puts on a
special feast for the vets “in the house”. The vets are treated to a
“Steak & Ale” luncheon. Administrator Major John Cotty,
USAFR Veteran himself, recruits speakers who are currently in
service to come and spend time with our vets. Another Veteran,
Capt. Edward Peplinksi, USAFR (Ret.) brought his vintage 1951
War jeep. A slide show and patriotic music completed the event.
Pictured above are: (seated) Veterans Abe Feinstein, USAF and
Richard Kopyczynski, USMC. Standing are Lt. Col. Elizabeth
Ryder, USAFR (Ret.), Capt. Peplinski, Veteran Albert DeGeorge,
USN and Lt. Col. Diana Cooper, USAFR (Ret.)
Genesis HealthCare
Genesis HealthCare is a nationwide
organization that cares for Veterans every day
in more than 400 skilled nursing centers
nationwide, providing short-stay rehabilitation,
long-term, palliative or hospice care.
“The time was right for us to launch a formal
program to honor the dedication and service
of our country’s Veterans,” shares Scott Soucy,
Director of Managed Care Business
Development for the Northeast Division. “We
wanted to partner with an organization with a
similar philosophy, and we believe that the We
Honor Veterans program is a exceptional way
to honor the military service of our elders.”
Extendicare
Extendicare is a leader in long-term care,
operating 158 senior care facilities with
approximately 15,400 beds in the United States
2
ADD
SPECIAL
MEANING
TO YOUR
GIFTS
Show the ones you love that you really
care. Each time you make a purchase from
one of these vendors, they will donate $10
to the National Hospice Foundation.
“Through our work with We Honor Veterans
we strive to enhance the quality care and
services that our teams provide to Veterans.
Our centers work hard to offer quality and
compassionate programs that specifically
address the needs of our Veterans and we
are proud to be a part of such an exemplary
program,” said Paul Stavros, Director of
Development for Extendicare.
Genesis HealthCare and Extendicare join
the ranks of community partners along with
founding partner Dignity Memorial. As new
community partners, both Genesis
HealthCare and Extendicare will have access
to the innovative WHV resources and
training that will help the organization better
serve Veterans throughout the country. As
We Honor Veterans community partners,
both organizations will focus on respectful
inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful
acknowledgment in serving the post-acute
healthcare needs of Veterans.
“It surprises many people to learn that there are
over 21 million Veterans living in America today.
These men and women often carry experiences
from their military service that present unique
healthcare challenges,” said J. Donald
Schumacher, NHPCO President and CEO.
To learn more about the We Honor
Veterans program or to become a
community partner, visit
www.WeHonorVeterans.org.
A newsletter of the National Hospice Foundation
|
Spring 2014
Or if gift cards are what you’re looking for,
TisBest Charity Gift Cards allow the
recipient to make a donation to one of
250 national charities, including NHF!
www.nationalhospicefoundation.org/
TisBest
Remember also to purchase your greeting
cards through Cards for Causes, and 20%
of your purchase will go to The National
Hospice Foundation! www.cardsforcauses.
com. They offer cards for every occasion!
These programs will run through 2014 so
include NHF for all holidays to add special
meaning to your gift purchases.
www.nationalhospicefoundation.org/Shop
Running for a Cause
NHF’s Run to Remember© Program
raises over $100K in 2013
Run to Remember had a great year in
2013, raising over $123,000! 130 individuals
ran a race of their choice or in one of
NHF’s spotlight races. Though the race
distances varied, from a 3k to an overnight
relay race, what remained consistent were
the reasons why they chose to be part of
Run to Remember.©
Each runner ran in memory or in honor of a
loved one and in support of hospice care.
The Watershed Group Tribute Tile and
Commemorative Paperweight
Honor, Remember, Invest: The Tribute Project Well
Underway
The Watershed Group Honors Mary J. Laybak
Patrice Moore, President and Founder of The Watershed Group, is one of the most
recent participants in The Tribute Project, honoring a friend and creating a legacy that will
live on at the National Center for Care at the End of Life.
Moore says, “I was compelled to support the NHF Tribute Project to honor my long-time
friend and mentor Mary J. Laybak.” She continues, “For those like me who have
dedicated our professional lives to hospice, Mary was my hospice touchstone and
mentor.”
Through the program, a runner or team
has the option of designating 50% of their
funds to a US or African hospice program.
“In addition to the funds that supported
community hospice programs and NHF,
more than $47,000 went to support US &
African hospice programs.
We thank our 2013 Run to Remember©
family, including our very own Executive
Director, John Mastrojohn III, who ran in the
2013 Marine Corps Marathon in memory of
his grandmothers and Galen Miller.
Labyak, who died in February 2012, was known for her innovative work within the hospice
and palliative care industry in the United States.
“Ilearned more
from her than
I ever thought
The NHF’s Tribute Project is an opportunity for donors to
possible…”
“From her unyielding dedication to the cause of the
dying I learned we should always ask patients first ‘What
do you want for the rest of your life?’ and give them
that; and ‘what will be meaningful to you and your loved
ones right now?’ then offer that.” Moore says.
create a “tile” to be mounted at the National Center for
Care at the End of Life which houses NHPCO and its affiliates. Additionally, this is another
way for donors to support the Campaign for the National Center. Tiles may honor an
organization, its founder, a retiring CEO, board member, volunteer or another member of
the caregiving team; remember the legacy of a family member, colleague or friend; and
invest in the comprehensive care that hospice provides.
The Tribute Project was a perfect way to remember a person who gave so much to the
hospice industry. “Mary’s hospice values and vision influenced my career,” Moore says.
“I learned more from her than I ever thought possible and enjoyed a friendship that I
cherish. Mary embodied the cause she helped to create.”
To learn more about The Tribute Project, contact Heather Slack-Ratiu
at (703) 837-3155 or [email protected].
A newsletter of the National Hospice Foundation
|
Spring 2014
John Mastrojohn, III
3
FHSSA is Going Global
FHSSA will Expand Services Globally Under a New Name: Global
Partners in Care
Global Partners in Care is the reimagined, redesigned and re-inspired organization that was
formerly known as FHSSA (Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa). FHSSA was
initially created in 1999, after U.S. hospice leaders had a powerful experience during a
professional seminar tour of hospices in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The tour highlighted
the tremendous impact the burgeoning HIV/AIDS pandemic was having on African hospice
leaders and their programs. Many areas had no hospices and the hospices that did exist
were being severely challenged by the urgent need to adapt hospice care to the special
needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. With minimal access to pain medication and very few
hospice programs, healthcare systems and community members alike were overwhelmed.
In 2014, the decision was made to build on the proven model of partnership that had been
successful through FHSSA. Global Partners in Care, still fully committed to partnerships in
Africa, will expand their reach based on the increasing need for hospice and palliative care
services in other regions of the world.
In fact, 80% of the global need for palliative care is in low and middle income countries. In
addition, treatment of pain is woefully inadequate in low and middle income countries.
These countries, which represent 83% of world’s population, utilized a mere 8% of total
morphine consumption worldwide.
The Partnership Program enables U.S. hospice and palliative care organizations to support
hospice and palliative care organizations in developing countries. Partners engage in
capacity-building, strategic planning, education, fundraising, and technical assistance to
expand and improve services for those in need.
developing countries are linked with national
associations, government and private
grant-making resources, and other U.S.
organizations that share our mission to
expand sustainable community health
services and compassionate care
internationally. To learn more, visit
www.globalpartnersincare.org.
“Compassion has
no borders”
“We are thrilled to expand the services and
benefits that were offered through FHSSA to
the rest of the global community,” says
Executive Director of Global Partners in Care
John Mastrojohn III, “We remain dedicated
to supporting hospice and palliative care
programs in Sub-Saharan Africa and in other
areas of the world where there is need to
provide compassionate end-of-life care but
limited resources to do so.”
Each partnership is unique, and is defined by the strengths of the participating entities.
These opportunities create reciprocal exchanges that enable us to learn from each other,
while supporting the care provided by our colleagues in developing countries. Hospices in
4
A newsletter of the National Hospice Foundation
|
Spring 2014
2014 NHF Gala Raises Funds to Support
Global Partners in Care (Formally FHSSA)
2014 was a special year for the National Hospice Foundation Gala as
everyone celebrated forty years of hospice care in the United States.
This year, all NHPCO Management and Leadership Conference
registrants were invited to join the celebration at the Gaylord National
Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, MD.
The event raised funds through generous sponsors, silent and live auctions,
and a special appeal to support Global Partners in Care (formerly known as
FHSSA), where initiatives to support hospice and palliative care have
expanded from Sub-Saharan Africa to other parts of the world.
Samira Beckwith, Hope HealthCare Services, Patti Moore, The Watershed Group,
Gretchen Brown and Deede Byrne, Hospice of the Bluegrass, Don Schumacher,
NHPCO and Affiliates, and Jan Jones, The Elizabeth Hospice.
“We are so happy to expand the reach of hospice and palliative care to parts of the world where resources are few. Using a model that has been
so successful in helping millions of patients and their families in Africa, we know we can make a huge impact elsewhere,” said J. Donald
Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Several awards were presented:
Gretchen Brown, CEO of Hospice of the Bluegrass, received the Galen Miller Leadership Award for her many years of visionary leadership
in hospice palliative care and rural outreach.
Will Schwalbe, best-selling author received the Morfogen Art of Caring Award for his profoundly moving memoir of caregiving,
mourning, and love – The End of Your Life Book Club, based on the experience he shared with his mother during her treatment for cancer.
Becky McDonald (posthumously), received the Global Vision Award for her dedication and innovation to program development in SubSaharan Africa through her work with FHSSA.
Next year’s gala will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015, also at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in conjunction with NHPCO’s 30th
Management and Leadership Conference.
THANK YOU TO THE
LEAD SPONSORS
THANK YOU LEAD
SPONSORS!*
*Sponsors as of March 10, 2014
TA N Z A N I T E S P O N S O R
AMETHYST SPONSORS
Community Health Accreditation
Program (CHAP)
HopeWest
J. Donald Schumacher, PsyD
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care
NATIONAL HOSPICE
FOUNDATION GALA
Thank you to the Sponsors of the 2014 National Hospice Foundation Gala. The event was a
great success as we celebrated 40 years of hospice care in the United States!
For more information, please contact Joy Nguyen at [email protected].
GALA PARTNERS
Forn ae wfull
A
s l esponsor
t t e r o f listing,
t h e N please
a t i o n ago
l Hto:
o swww.nationalhospicefoundation.org/2014gala
pice Foundation | Spring 2014
GARNET SPONSORS
Center for Hospice Care
Chapters Health System
The Corridor Group and Jeannee
& Mike Martin
HBO
Hospice of Michigan
Hospice of Northwest Ohio
Hospice Pharmacia
National Association of Social
Workers / NASW Foundation
NHPCO Senior Leadership Team
(Anita Brikman, Beth Fells, Cathy Gibney,
Jon Keyserling, John Mastrojohn)
Optum Palliative and Hospice Care
Outcome Resources
Prairie Haven Hospice & Palliative Care
and Hospice Services Inc.
Simione Healthcare Consultants
5
1731 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Ph: 703-516-4928 or 877-470-6472
Fax: 703-837-1233
[email protected]
Social Networking with NHF
Join the conversation on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/NatHospFdn
Follow our tweets at Nhf_news
Learn more about NHF at
www.nationalhospicefoundation.org
!
Here are just a few ways
you can help
hospice
Give at Work
Ask your human resources office if your organization matches
charitable contributions or has another opportunity for you to
donate with pre-tax donations.
Run a Race-solo or with Friends
Register at www.runtoremember.org to honor a loved one and
raise funds for the National Hospice Foundation or Global
Partners in Care.
Choose Hospice as Your Charity
Make a contribution to the National Hospice Foundation in lieu
of flowers or gifts for any occasion.
Include Hospice in Your Will
Leave your legacy and create an effective plan for your future.
Visit: www.nationalhosicefoundation.org/planning