BENJAMIN GALLAND, H2O CREATIVE GROUP
ELITE AND UNIQUE
The Hospice Honors Elite award-winning staff of Hospice of the Golden Isles
W
hen someone mentions Hospice of the Golden Isles (HGI), you’re likely to hear something like “they are angels on earth” or “my family never would have made it without them.” Many lives have been touched by HGI’s services. This nonprofit agency has deep roots in our community and has been caring for our friends and family for almost 40 years. Hospice team members are our neighbors, friends, and family. HGI’s services are unique in many respects. HGI was founded in 1980 as a volunteer endeavor even before Medicare funding was made available for hospice care in 1983. Although most hospice care they provide is home-based, HGI is the only local hospice that operates a freestanding Hospice House, including a 12-bed inpatient facility and 12-bed residential program that serves as a critically important safety net for some of the most vulnerable in our community. In 2010, HGI hired a full-time Chief Medical Officer, Dr. John Shaner, the only local physician who is Board certified in Hospice & Pal-
liative Medicine as well as Internal Medicine. In addition to providing excellent clinical oversight of HGI, Dr. Shaner serves as the Medical Director for Golden Isles Palliative Care, HGI’s new specialty service that provides expert treatment of all stages of chronic illness.
Executive Officer, Karen Brubaker Miller, to discuss Hospice’s exceptional accomplishments. EIL: How does it feel to be the only hospice in Georgia to receive HEALTHCAREfirst’s Hospice Honors Award for six consecutive years? KBM: Our team is thrilled to receive this
Southeast coastal Georgia’s original hometown hospice, HGI is mission-minded, with a Board of Directors and senior leadership team who live locally and are invested in the community. HGI provides over $750,000 of uncompensated care annually (10% of the annual budget) to ensure access to high quality hospice services for all eligible patients who need their expert care. HGI’s bereavement services are available to the community and they conduct an annual Lights of Love memorial service to support families who have experienced the loss of a loved one. HGI has the privilege of serving more than 600 patients and their families each year and continues to receive national recognition for exceptional quality of care while serving more patients than ever before in the history of the organization. EIL reached out to HGI’s Chief
very special national recognition from HEALTHCAREfirst for the sixth year in a row. Hospice Honors is a prestigious award for hospices who receive outstanding results on family satisfaction surveys after their loved one has died on Hospice care. Survey questions assess satisfaction with services by each member of the team, responsiveness of after-hours care, education and support for caregivers, and whether they would recommend the hospice to others. The Hospice Honors award is given to hospices scoring above national averages on 20 of the 24 evaluated survey measures. Hospice Honors Elite is awarded to hospices achieving above average scores on all 24 measures. Our team is proud that HGI is the only hospice in Georgia to obtain the Elite Designation, in addition to Hospice Honors, twice in six years. Consistently, survey results (continues)
JUNE 2018
63
