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Hospice Provider Member News
Dr. Hunter E. Woodall receives 2010 Halford Award for Leadership in Humane Education 
Dr. Hunter E. "Woody" Woodall is the 2010 recipient of the Halford Award for Leadership in Humane Education. The Halford Award recognizes a teacher of Family Medicine in South Carolina who exhibits a caring attitude and respect for patients and residents, a value for human dignity, a passion and joy for teaching and a devotion to the community. Sponsored by South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (SC AHEC), it was named in honor and in the memory of Dr. James G. Halford, founding director of the Anderson Family Medicine Residency Program.
With more than twenty years of practice and teaching in South Carolina, from rural Allendale County to the Upstate, as well as accompanying residents on medical missions in Central America, Woody is described as providing quality medical care with eagerness and professionalism. The passion he has for his work and his residents became apparent in the nomination letters submitted on his behalf. "Dr. Woodall is a Professor of Family Medicine. He is not only board certified in Family Medicine, but also in Palliative Care and Addiction Medicine. He devotes many hours to the direct care of patients at the Hospice House, where he also educates residents who rotate through on a Palliative Care elective. He is known for his compassion and deep caring for the patients who are receiving care in the hospice program. He is known to sit and sing spiritual hymns in his deep baritone voice at the bedside of his patients. Woody says, "I am honored to be linked with Dr. Halford-he offered me my first teaching job, sealed with a smile and a handshake. It's especially gratifying because my role as a teacher is a bit different. I specialize in addiction medicine and end of life care. Those aren't the first things residents think about when they come out of medical school. That's the hard to deal with stuff." Dr. Woodall has been medical director of the Callie & John Rainey Hospice House of Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson since the facility opened in 1998. He is AHEC Professor of Family Medicine at AnMed Health. Community Celebration and Remembrance at Hock Family Pavilion
Duke HomeCare & Hospice will host a community celebration and service of remembrance in honor of the one year anniversary of the opening of Hock Family Pavilion on Saturday, May 1 at 2 pm. Since opening in April of 2009, over 300 members of our community have been served at Hock Family Pavilion at the end of their lives.
Please join us as we celebrate our milestones, and remember those in our community who are no longer with us. The program will include remarks by Mike Woodard, Durham City Councilman, and longtime Duke Hospice supporter. In addition, family members who have had loved ones at Hock Family Pavilion will share their stories of hope and healing. The Aldersgate United Methodist handbell choir will provide music and inspiration. Following the service, there will be a Monarch butterfly release and light refreshments will be served. This celebration will be held on the front lawn of the Hock Family Pavilion, located at 4023 North Roxboro Rd. in Durham. This program is open to everyone in the community, and provided at no charge by Duke HomeCare & Hospice. For more information, contact Carol Ann Mullis at 919.479.0315 or by email, carol.mullis@duke.edu. 
Dee Leahman Wins the Individual 2010 SHCA National Patient Advocacy Award Dee Leahman, Director Community Partnership for EOLC at Hospice and Palliative CareCenter in Winston-Salem, NC won the Individual 2010 SHCA National Patient Advocacy Award! Below is the award letter: 
Susan Cox Named 2010 Board President for HPNA
Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro (HPCG) is pleased to announce Susan S. Cox, RN, MSN, CHPN is the incoming president for The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA). HPNA is a national non-profit organization of nursing professionals specializing in end-of-life care and pain management.
Cox has been affiliated with Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro (HPCG) since 2002. In her current role at HPCG, Cox is Chief Clinical Officer where she is responsible for leadership, management, and daily operations. Previously, Cox served as the Vice President of Clinical Services with oversight of Beacon Place, Palliative Care Services and the administration of Medical Services for HPCG. Cox earned her BS in Nursing from UNC-Charlotte in 1985. She also obtained a Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Administration degree from UNCG-Greensboro in 2001. Cox is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) through the National Board of Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN). HPCG, a non-profit agency serving Greater Greensboro since 1980, is situated on an eight-acre campus at 2500 Summit Avenue. HPCG provides physical, emotional and spiritual support for children and adults faced with a life-limiting illness, as well as their caregivers and families. For more information, contact HPCG at 336.621.2500, or www.hospicegso.org. 
Hospice of Union County is Proud to Announce the Completion of the Edward Carlton McWhorter House
Hospice of Union County is proud to announce the completion of the Edward Carlton McWhorter House, the third hospice house to be located on their main campus in Monroe, NC. Not only does the facility provide an additional six beds of residential care, it also has the first six beds of general in-patient care for hospice patients in Union County. Adding to the fourteen beds already available on campus, the new facility has both patient and family spaces, including two sunrooms, a family dining room and a family room with a play area for children - with fireplaces in the two family areas.
Patient rooms include a private patio entrance for each patient, as well as a family area that includes a fold-out couch for times when a family member would like to stay the night. The campus is continuing to be updated, with Houses I and II being refurnished as soon as it is possible to do so with minimum disturbance for the patients already there. There is also a project underway to qualify the campus itself as a Nationally Certified Wildlife Habitat, primarily focusing on birds and butterflies. While the campus already includes a fish pond and bird feeders outside each patient window, the addition of further water features and safe nesting opportunities will help to achieve an ever more peaceful location for the patients and their families.   Hospice of Yancey County's Open House and Note Burning
The Hospice of Yancey County held an open house and note burning on November 1, 2009. The lady lighting the note is Treasurer Mary Nelson. The others pictured are board members.
Four Seasons Receives Circle of Life Award!
The American Hospital Association (AHA) awarded the prestigious Circle of Life Award to Four Seasons of Flat Rock, NC, in a ceremony on July 24 in San Francisco. Four Seasons was one of only three programs nationwide recognized for expanding the reach of palliative and end-of-life care in its area.
President/CEO Chris Comeaux and representative Four Seasons staff members Nikki Granere, CNA; Eunice Frady, clinical nurse coordinator; Jane McKown, chaplain; and Rikki Nugent, nurse practitioner, travelled to San Francisco to receive the award. AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said of the award recipients, "Dealing with life-threatening illness and end-of-life decisions is difficult for all involved, and the Circle of Life honorees understand that respect, compassion, and honesty are vital aspects of palliative care." On Tuesday, August 18, Richard H Wade, senior vice president for strategic communications, from the American Hospital Association visited Four Seasons to re-present the award in front of a gathering of staff, volunteers, and the community. Chris Comeaux said, "The Circle of Life Award acknowledges that we are one of the best end-of-life care providers in the country. We will continue to live up to that expectation in all our interactions with patients, families and community partners. We are entering a very challenging time in healthcare where there are many unknowns. Our goal is to not just preserve, but to further our mission and vision." Four Seasons was chosen to receive the award along with Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Ore., and Wishard Health Services in Indianapolis, Ind., from about 50 nominations submitted from around the country. The selection committee included leaders from medicine, nursing, social work and health administration. The committee visited programs that respect patient goals and preferences, provide comprehensive care, acknowledge and address that family or caregivers' concerns and build systems and mechanisms of support that ensure the programs continue. Four Seasons and the other programs selected service as innovative models for other communities as well. Four Seasons has a multi-disciplinary approach to improving patients physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being. The organization was founded over 25 years ago at the beginning of the hospice movement. In 2002, the board of directors made the decision to take the organization to the next level, and as a result, the organization now cares for over 2,200 people on a yearly basis with a full range of hospice and palliative care, research and bereavement services. With community support, Four Seasons grew from serving 26 percent of all deaths in its area to 76 percent. The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities.  (Left to right) Eunice Frady, Four Seasons clinical nurse coordinator; Nikki Granere, Four Seasons CNA; John Mastrojohn III, vice president, Palliative Care, Quality & Research, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Alexandria, VA; Chris Comeaux, Four Seasons president/CEO; Richard P. de Filippi, trustee, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA and chairman-elect, American Hospital Association; Jane McKown, Four Seasons chaplain; and Rikki Nugent, Four Seasons nurse practitioner. Congratulations to TCC Member Winners of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's 2009 Writing/Photo/Film Contest!
NHPCO recently had a Writing/Photo/Film contest and two Provider Members employees won Honorable Mentions!
The PDF sharing the winning submissions are now available on NHPCO's Web site at: www.nhpco.org/files/public/communications/2009_Contest_Winners.pdf. Honorable Mention: Comforting Paws Erin Brideson Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarras Co. Kannapolis, NC Honorable Mention: Vows Eternal Dennis Wolterding Mercy Hospice & Palliative Care Myrtle Beach, SC Hospice Care of the Lowcountry Nurses Earn Highest Level Hospice & Palliative Care Certification
Bluffton, S.C. - Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, a nonprofit hospice serving Beaufort and Jasper counties, is proud to announce its staff of nurses was recently certified by the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses.
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) exam tests the knowledge and competency of Registered Nurses working in end-of-life care and is the highest level of hospice and palliative care certification available. The newly-certified nurses include: Mary Estes, Sarah Greene, Joni Gruber, Thelma Noble, Beth Radcliffe and Sandy Ploszaj, joining already-certified nurses Debi Malool, MaryAnne Richardson and Jenny Brasington. "Certification indicates mastery of knowledge in hospice and palliative care and to my knowledge no other hospice organization in our service area offers this level of proficiency," said Lynn Brooks, executive director of Hospice Care of the Lowcountry. "Our organization is the oldest hospice in this region however, we realize that staying fully current on medical practices is imperative, especially end-of-life services." A certified Hospice and Palliative nurse specializes in treating patients while they are dealing with end-of-life issues, usually in a setting outside of a hospital. To be eligible for the CHPN exam, applicants must currently be licensed as a Registered Nurse. "We're very fortunate to have such a highly trained and dedicated staff that allows us to ensure the delivery of superior end-of-life care," Brooks said. For more information on Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, call 843.706.2296 or visit, www.hospicecarelc.org
Dr. Hunter E. Woodall achieves Fellow Status with the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Mediciney
Dr. Hunter E. Woodall is the second physician in South Carolina to achieve the status of Fellow in the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Dr. Woodall serves the AnMed Health Family Medicine Residency as a professor of Family Medicine. His practice and teaching includes the entire lifespan, including obstetrics. Since 1998, he also serves as the Medical Director of Hospice of the Upstate. The Fellowship is a designation based upon significant work in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, including: ten years of service as Medical Director of Hospice of the Upstate, presentations at state and national meetings, serving on testing boards for the academy, publications in the field, and recommendations by two other fellows. Hospice of the Upstate is very proud to be in a minority of hospices who have Medical Directors with this accomplished distinction. Dr. Woodall says, "I believe in an interdisciplinary approach to caring for the whole person-body, mind, and spirit-and that even when cure is no longer possible, excellent comfort care should always be provided". 
Duke Hospice Holds a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
On February 24, Duke Hospice will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for their newest hospice inpatient facility - Hock Family Pavilion. This new facility will feature 12 private patient rooms and will provide the same services as their 6-bed facility located in Hillsborough, Duke Hospice at the Meadowlands. Duke Hospice's inpatient care facilities provide 24 hour skilled nursing care to Duke Hospice patients who cannot manage their symptoms and/or control their pain at home. Hospice care addresses the physical, emotion and spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones.
Last fiscal year, Duke Hospice served the needs of 900 patients and their families. The majority of hospice care was provided in the patient's home, but over 260 of patients received care at Duke Hospice at the Meadowlands last year. Members of the community are invited to attend either of two Open House events. On Friday, February 27 from Noon to 5 PM a shuttle bus will pick up at the front circle at Duke North and Durham Regional every half hour for tours of the new facility. On Saturday, February 28 a Community Open House will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM. All members of the public are invited to attend. For more information please contact Carol Ann Mullis at 919.684.9542, or by email carol.mullis@duke.edu.  Hospice of the Piedmont Volunteer Receives Award
Longtime Hospice of the Piedmont volunteer, Donna Turner, received the President's Volunteer Service Award from President George W. Bush on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Turner has been a volunteer at Hospice of the Piedmont in High Point for more than 25 years, clocking nearly 25,000 volunteer hours. "I can't believe it," Turner said. "When you volunteer, you never even think of getting an award. It's such an honor." Donna joins just over 600 people in the entire nation who have received the President's Volunteer Service Award during the past eight years. More information:
Donna with President George W. Bush 
Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter Opens Inpatient Facility
Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter (Wilmington, NC) began serving patients from Columbus, Bladen, and Brunswick counties at the House of Angels Columbus County Hospice Care Center in Whiteville in October. To meet the needs of hospice patients and their families, the six-bed facility features six private patient rooms with sleeper sofas, a living room with a fireplace, children's playroom, family kitchen, dining room, reading room, and laundry facilities. The capital campaign to build the care center raised more than $2.6 million in contributions and grants.
Hospice Care of the Lowcountry Launches Hos-Pets Program in Bluffton, SC
When about a dozen of Hospice Care of the Lowcountry's newest volunteers met with some of the nonprofit's longtime helpers last Thursday, it seemed they all had something in common: an eagerness to serve those who are ill.
But the newbie volunteers had a few things separating them from the rest of the crowd: Tails and four paws. Hos-Pets, a new pet therapy program being offered by Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, kicked off June 12 with a mix and mingle social outside the organization's offices near the Bluffton Branch of the Beaufort County Public Library, where patient volunteers met the program's participating dog owners and their pooches. The new program - offered in conjunction with the AlphaDog Training Academy - means patients can opt to have a home visit from a trained dog as part of their hospice care. The agency also will facilitate regular pet visits to rehabilitation and assisted living facilities around the Lowcountry. All Hos-Pet dogs are required to be certified through Canine Good Citizen or Therapy Dog International, two programs that train pups to display their best behavior at home and in public. To read more about this program, visit www.islandpacket.com/communities/bluffton/story/527875.html and http://npaper-wehaa.com/bluffton-today;see-Tv9ozL5H7804m1et;html;c-37370. Levine & Dickson Hospice House of Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region
In January, Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region proudly celebrated the opening of Levine & Dickson Hospice House, in conjunction with its 30th anniversary. This 16-bed facility provides short-term care for patients whose symptom management requires greater medical supervision that can be provided at home, or when care at home is not an option. Levine & Dickson Hospice House also serves as a community resource fro grief education and end-of-life care.
The American Craftsman style Levine & Dickson Hospice House is home-like in design. Each, private, patient room has accommodations for family members to spend the night with their loved ones. The 29,000 square foot facility also includes a family room, an interfaith chapel, staff offices, sunrooms, a library, a kitchen and a small conference center. Landscaped gardens accent the grounds and a labyrinth for meditative walks sits just outside the large family room. Levine & Dickson Hospice House will be fully staffed 24-hours each day, with a team of healthcare professionals with specialized hospice care training and experience. The care team will include a hospice physician, clinical director, hospice nurses, social worker, chaplain, nursing assistants, dietary manager, trained volunteers and others. The first freestanding hospice facility in Mecklenburg County, it is centrally located within the nine-county service area of Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region. Designed for future expansion, it sits on twelve wooded acres in The Park Huntersville and is easily accessible from the area's major highways. The facility was named for its most generous contributors, The Leon Levine Foundation: Sandra and Leon Levine and The Dickson Foundation, Inc. Levine & Dickson Hospice House was designed by Odell Associates architects and constructed by Rodgers Builders. For more information, or to take a virtual tour of Levine & Dickson Hospice House, visit: www.hpccr.org. 
 Dr. Janet Bull Receives Award From the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Janet Bull, M.D., vice president of medical services for Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care, has been named a Fellow by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).
Chris Comeaux, president/CEO of Four Seasons, said, "This is a great honor for Janet, and a well-deserved recognition of her hard work, vision, and compassion as a hospice and palliative care physician. The board and staff are quite proud of her." The award is a special honor of the academy given to members who have demonstrated special, long-term commitment to scholarship and clinical hospice and palliative medicine. To be eligible, a physician must be board certified by the American Board of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, have been a member of AAHPM in good standing for at least five years, have at least five years of post-residency professional activity predominately in the field of hospice and palliative medicine, and have significant commitment to scholarship in the field of hospice and palliative medicine. John Morris, M.D., palliative care medical director for Four Seasons, said, "Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative care is fortunate to have a woman like Janet who continues to lead and mentor other providers in excellence in end-of-life care. She's a great role model and mentor. Receiving this national award is quite an honor." Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care, located in Hendersonville, NC, uses an interdisciplinary approach to provide care and services to patients and their families by experienced hospice professionals and volunteers. The agency has served approximately 7,000 patients since its inception. |
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