Heartbeat August | 2019
Our Southeast Louisville team helped patient Bertha Sweasy celebrate her 101st birthday with friends & family at Traditions Beaumont senior community this month.
From the CEO...
We have so much to celebrate! Modern Healthcare Best Places to Work, record high census, volunteer growth, the opening of our Jasper office and implementation of HCHB. As our schedules become more hectic, it is important to remain focused, strong and always grateful. Hosparus Health is becoming stronger because of the efforts of each of you. In this issue, you will see examples of celebration, growth, and community engagement… but always with a focus on taking care of our patients, families and our own employees. I am proud of our internal strength and progress. Our Senior Leaders are hard at work, partnering with our Board of Directors to build our 2020-2022 strategic plan, which will help us cast the vision for the next few years of Hosparus
BEST PLACES TO WORK CELEBRATIONS View the photos of staff celebrating the award across our communities! PAGE 3
EVENT STAFF TICKET PRICING Now is your chance to attend Dancing with Our Southern Indiana Stars & the Candle Glow Gala for a discounted rate!
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Health culture, growth and services across our communities and beyond. The strategic plan is a work in progress, and we want to know what you think. During the month of August, be on the lookout for opportunities to offer feedback about specific aspects of our strategic plan. With school back in session, it’s a good time to pause and remember that we must all be open to learning. This fall – and the coming years – will provide plenty of opportunity for us to learn new things and innovate. Let’s choose to look for the opportunities and embrace them together. This year of strengthening will pay dividends for years to come. Gratefully, Phil Marshall
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
BLOG
Featuring Molly Demoss, KKids RN
Hosparus Health’s Hospice Prison Program Part 2: How One Doctor Eases the “Compassionate Release to Death”
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By: Sky Kevyn Yeasayer PAGE 14
SPREADING T HE WORD
Corporate HCHB Go Live
First Patient Admitted in the System!
We have gone live with Homecare Homebase (HCHB) for new admissions in our HSI Community! HSI is setting the pace of our 10 week sprint. All Hosparus Health patients will be in the HCHB system on October 1, 2019. We are pleased to report HSI admitted their first patient into HCHB on the evening of August 6th. Leann McCoy processed the referral, Sara Williams completed the scheduling, and Helen Pearson completed the benefit verification. Ketlin Schneider, RN went out with confidence and a positive approach to do an amazing job with the admission. Sara Williams was providing behind the scene support, as well as various leaders and subject matter experts were on call for any unexpected issues to ensure we didn’t have delays in care to the patient and family. The admission occurred successfully and no significant difficulties! Aside from a year of planning, building, designing, refining and organizing we accomplished the following over the past 2 weeks to be ready for our 1st patient: • 9 HCHB Consultants on-site • 52 training sessions in both Southern Indiana and Louisville (Customer Support, Medical Team, Billing/Medical Records and Finance) • 188 staff members scheduled and participated in training Many team members have asked “How can I help?” What we ask from every one of you is the same hard work and dedication that the Southern IN team put forth to get their first patient admitted. • Be Innovative: Think outside of our current system and processes, as the future comes with some new processes that may take a little time to get used to, but will be positive once in place. • Be Flexible: Remember even wonderfully good change takes an adjustment. Be patient and understand; everything will not be perfect in the beginning, yet with everyone’s help we will figure it out and continue to refine along the way. • Be Dedicated: Know that we can do this! I am continually appreciative of the compassion and commitment our teams have for our patients and families. With this change we are going through a zone of disruption, but with commitment we will get through it quickly! • Be Engaged: To every leader in our organization - we must work alongside our team members in the trenches understanding and supporting the new technology and processes. To every staff member – be open in learning the technology and working through processes. Everyone please raise ideas or assist in resolving concerns, help your peers, and own this change!
Employee Payroll Mailbox Great News! Finance has set up a new e-mailbox for all employees to submit their payroll questions, concerns, or changes. This mailbox will be monitored every business day to ensure all payroll related issues or concerns are addressed timely and efficiently. Effective immediately, please submit all payroll related questions, concerns, or changes to: employeepayroll@hosparus.org Please contact Bev Bruyneel with any questions you may have regarding this new e-mailbox.
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S PR E A D I N G T H E W ORD
Corporate Modern Healthcare Best Places to Work Celebrations Each of our communities had their own celebration. We are thrilled to see all your beautiful smiles as you celebrate with your teams!
(Left to right) Gina Embry, RN, Jackie Cahill, RN
(Left to right) Jackie Cahill, Doug Hedges and Gina Embry
Lots of Movin’ and Shakin’
Activity is ramping up at our Jasper office in Indiana! We are getting closer to officially opening the extension of our Southern Indiana office with furniture and our printer installed. We even hosted our first event-- a CEU class in late July. Thank you to everyone who has helped us gear up to serve Jasper and it’s neighboring counties. On July 25th, our Grief Counseling Services held an educational event titled, Demystifying Grief. Jacquelyn Love Psy.D. who lead the class stated, “There was a positive response from attendees and it seems there has been a great deal of interest generated.” The class hosted approximately 15 students, some of which were our competitors, Kindred and Heart to Heart. Kim Ruttle, Community Director of HSI said, “Even a few of the Hosparus Health employees who attended admitted it was such a success they themselves learned so much.” Our Jasper team members also joined a clinical team to visit Memorial Health Hospital and conducted a meeting with Memorial’s Hospitalist. Relationships take time, but we are working hard to build trust and educate our new referral sources in the area.
Central Kentucky Team Members
We continue to look forward to serving the new communities! Below is a picture of the interior of the Jasper office.
Southwest Team Members
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CONNECT ING YOU TO EVEN TS
Calendar See more events & programs on our website, and show your interest and share our event pages on Facebook!
September
October 13
Pain Awareness Month Childhood Cancer Month
World Hospice & Palliative Care Day
September 10
Pastoral Care Week - 20-26
Dancing with Our Southern Indiana Stars Where: Huber’s Plantation Hall
October 20-26
Click Here for the Occupational Health August Calendar
September 12 Give for Good Louisville Join us Online here!
September 14 Grief Counseling Fall Family Workshops: History of Cemeteries 101 (see more on page 11)
September 17 Volunteer Training Campbellsville Thrift Shoppe Contact Carrie Truitt for more information, ctruitt@hosparus.org.
September 24 Volunteer Training Louisville Contact Sky Yeasayer for more information, syeasayer@hosparus.org
September 24, 12 PM-1:30 PM Autumn Leaf Society Luncheon Where: Big Springs Country Club
October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 1 & 2 Midland Trail Auction & Golf Tournament
October 1 Volunteer Training So. Indiana Contact Vonya Gresham for more information, vgresham@hosparus.org.
October 5 HGR Gerald Mattingly Golf Tournament
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Dancing With Our Southern Indiana Stars TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 5:30 - 9 PM
Employee Ticket sales end SEPTEMBER 1ST. Limit two tickets per employee. For tickets: Text: DancingStaff19 to 41444 Or click here: igfn.us/f/2diw/n Where: Huber’s Orchard and Winery Plantation Hall, Starlight, IN 47106 For questions or more information, contact Judy Cloud at 502-719-4195 or jcloud@hosparus.org.
Candle Glow Gala & Glow Lounge NOVEMBER 16TH
Gala Employee tickets $135 per ticket (two for one) Tickets increase to $150 on October 19th Ticket sales end on November 1st. Limit two per employee. Text: GalaEmployee19 to 41444 Or click here: igfn.us/f/2div/n Lounge Employee tickets $75 per ticket ($10 discount) Tickets increase to $85 on October 19th Limit two per employee. Text GalaEmployee19 to 41444 Or click here: igfn.us/f/2div/n
FUND I N G T H E M I S S ION
Development Gifts
We received the following gifts and donations to help our patients and families who need us most:
Comprehensive Campaign Update
• The Irvin F and Alice S Etscorn Foundation -- $100,000 towards the new Grief Counseling Center • The Hazel and Walter T Bales Foundation -- $5,000 for bereavement in Clark and Floyd Counties • Enterprise Rent-a-Car -- $1,000 for KKids • The Gheens Foundation -- $25,000 annual gift • WHAS Crusade for Children -- $40,000 annual gift for KKids and kids’ grief plus $30,000 capital gift • Sam Swope Family Foundation -- $25,000 with an emphasis on our work with veterans as well as pet-related work (therapy, re-homing) • Gardner Foundation -- $1,000 for Kkids • ARGI -- $2,500 for Camp Evergreen • The Greater Louisville Medical Society Foundation -- $2,500 Gala sponsorship
Get Your Bourbon Raffle Tickets!
We will be selling 100 tickets at $100 each for the bourbon raffle at the Candle Glow Gala. Your ticket enters you to win very expensive bourbon. Tickets are available for purchase NOW at the link below. https://louisvilletickets.com/events/candle-glow-gala-bourbon-raffle
Auction Items Needed
We are in need of various auction items such as gift cards, experiences, alcohol, etc. to put into silent auction baskets for both our Dancing with Our Southern Indiana Stars & Candle Glow Gala events. If you have something to contribute, please contact Kelsi Dempster, Event & Donor Development Coordinator, kdempster@hosparus.org. Thank you!
The Good Stuff
Submitted by patients & families, this is the ‘why’ behind what we do. We have been fortunate enough to have this company and its amazing employees by our side for the last 6 weeks of my father-in-law’s journey. They are amazing, caring people. I highly recommend their services if you are ever in need. -Facebook comment from K. Hurt From Google:
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HERE TO HEL P
Employees
Human Resources, Education and Employee Health News
Did You Know?
Heat cramps are often an early sign that the body is having trouble with the heat. Heat exhaustion typically involves the loss of body fluids through heavy sweating during strenuous exercise or physical labor in high heat and humidity. Heat stroke (also known as sunstroke) is a life-threatening condition in which a person’s temperature control system stops working and the body is unable to cool itself.
View Your Earnings Statement Guess what? You don’t have to wait until the end of the year to see your total compensation statement. Ceridian offers your statement year-round. Within Ceridian navigate to Earnings> Earning Statement and Compensation. This statement shows the contributions made by Hosparus Health toward your total compensation package. As you review this statement, you will see that the value of your benefits, added to your annual pay, produce your total compensation. This statement is designed to show how much your service is valued by Hosparus Health.
Signs of heat exhaustion include cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea; dizziness; weakness; and exhaustion. Signs of heat stroke include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting; and high body Temperature. Heat stroke is life-threatening! Call 9-1-1 immediately if you believe you or someone else is experiencing heat stroke or exhaustion!
Spread the Good News! Hosparus Health Email Signature
Because of our new designation as Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work, we have updated our email signatures. It is important you update your email signature so that any communications outside the organization realize we are ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK! Use this link, to find detailed step by step instructions.
Congratulations to these CNAs who received their CNA – CHPNA certification!: Darlene Bailey Karissa Barker Dulcy Looney Lori Mastoroudis Nasecah McTier
Magen Meyer Lavenia Murray Shelley Phillips Emily Stark Ashley Weisheit
Congratulations to these employees for passing their certification tests. They are now certified hospice and
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palliative nurses (CHPN)! Susan Bunch Kayla Kain Lindsey Emert
Welcome New Employees April Fiel, Team Nurse- HLSE Heidi Metz, Team Nurse- HLSE JohnCulbertson, Chaplain - Level II- HLSW Joseph Renfrow-Pike, Team Nurse- HLSW Lori Sears, Community Office Assistant- HLSW Nicole Stanley, CNA- HCL Page Fain, CNA- HCL Rocksetta Fugate, Visit Nurse- HBR Sabrina Amos, Team Nurse- HLSW Samantha Hardin, Registered Nurse- HICC Sara Hibbs, PRN Registered Nurse- HLSW Shelbie Hatmaker, Team Nurse- HCK Susan Ridge, Team Nurse- HLSE
OTT
The Over The Top program is designed to show appreciation to a fellow co-worker who has provided excellent customer service and/or support to their peers. Staff can fill out an Over The Top card on any staff member that helped them in some way. Ask your manager where the cards are at your location, or complete online. Completed cards should be put in the designated box. A copy of the card is then sent to the nominated individual and to their supervisor.
Shining Star
Central Kentucky Angela Bird Ashley Jury Central Louisville Eva Morse Kathryn Bissmeyer Kathryn Bowles- Nesmith Mary Demoss
Central Kentucky Angela Judd Our Shining Star program Bonnie Davenport was created so staff could Doloris Mastoroudis, 2 Rhonda Ramey receive the recognition they deserve from families. Sandra Bailey, 2 Patients and families give a donation to Hosparus Health Green River Carla Corbin in honor of a caregiver to Kristy Bennett say thank you. Sarah Adams Barren River Alayna Bailey HICC Ashlie Brooks Jamelia Hogan Joann Pearson, 2 Marsha Bryant Kayla Scruggs Stacey Merritt Jenney Kayla Cain Lindsay McKinney Louisville-Corp Patricia Brown Tiffany Tudor Rita Brewer
Louisville Northeast Doug Engelsman Jennifer Noonan Jennifer Bradbury Karen A Thompson
Green River Elizabeth Bell Larissa Marr
Barren River Misty Basham Natalie Fones William Sofield
HICC Debra Sampson Louisville Southeast Danielle Mills Elizabeth Lindquist Louisville Southwest Ashley Tabler Elizabeth Watson Erin Lauersdorf Robyn Mathias
Central Louisville Aaron Doyle Brenda Snyder Cheryl Lang Elizabeth Cambron Karen Allgeier Kimberly Tribolet Lura McCoy Magen Meyer, 2 Rafael Macaranas Ronyale Rankin
Indiana Alex Robertson Ashley Weisheit
Joseph Ferry Kelly Messina Lelehna Elder Doug Hedges Trey Maddox Josh Archibald
Louisville-Corp Beatrice Aistrop Bertil Lindvall Brittany Becerra Caitlin Gonya Candice Evans Christina Meza
Louisville Southwest Aaron Doyle Donna Beld Lynn Paslick Louisville Southeast Robin Hollobaugh Ashley Hall, 2 Robyn Mathias Beth Causey Stephanie Alvey Banks, 2 Dana Fowler Danielle Mills Southern Indiana Elizabeth Lindquist Dulcy Looney Harold Miller-Price Emily Stark Jamelia Hogan Jessica Konkler, 2 Louisville Northeast Lawrence Lucas Ketlin Schneider Marcee Wozadlo Brittany Deterville Robert Werner, 2 Michelle Sanders Carol Heinz Robin Bagshaw Nicolette Greene, 2 Cori Petty, 2 Roseann Harwood Sara Miescke Debra Burk Sarah Vissers Shanda Riley Denise Smith Tiffany Tudor Doug Engelsman Toni Chaudoin Heather Bauer Ida Stephens Marcy Spencer Pamela Bell Todd Sprouse
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AT T HE CORE OF OUR WORK
Volunteers
Human Resources, Education and Employee Health News
New Ambassadors! Welcome!
Our Ambassador Program is an extension of our outreach and volunteer program. Our ambassadors help us share information about the benefits of Hosparus Health and how we improve the quality of life for those in our communities that need us most. We are excited to add the below members: Sharon Hoskins-Sanders, Green River Sharon just completed 10 years as a council member for the City of Campbellsville. She is a member of the Campbellsville Bi-Centennial Committee, Campbellsville -Taylor County Leadership Alumni, and serves as Treasurer for the local Kentucky Special Olympics. She attends First Baptist Church where she is the Business Administrator. Sharon has a heart for Hospice and looks forward to helping us connect our community to our mission. Wanda Washington, Green River Wanda is a huge community support and involved in most everything that goes on positive in our community. She currently chairs the Greater Campbellsville Inc. and is a member of the Taylor County Homemakers group. Wanda believes in our mission and is passionate about connecting people in need. Frank and Sharon Peters, Green River Frank and Sharon are a wonderful husband/wife team from Marion County. They both have experiences with having a loved one use Hosparus Health. Their story is a sweet one. Each of them had lost spouses within the last 5 years and said Hosparus Health was a gift for them and their loved ones. A mutual friend had introduced them to each other, and they kindled a love and friendship. They are now married and wanting to share their experience and the benefit of our services with everyone they know. They both attend Holy Trinity Church in Washington County and plan to share our mission with the congregation.
DID YOU KNOW?!
We are always in need of care blankets from groups and individuals that have a knack for knitting, sewing, and crocheting. It’s easy to help our patients & families in this way, all while continuing a hobby you love.
Thank you Northeast Quilting Friends!
We had a recent donation of 30 patriotic quilts made and donated by Northeast Quilting Friends, a ministry of Northeast Christian Church. This guild has been supplying us with quilts for a couple of years. They recently hosted us to learn about hospice care and Hosparus Health-they had so many great questions! Many members of the group have had personal experience with our care. Because of this guild and many other community partners who donate the material, time and compassion that goes into each blanket, we are able to give our patients blankets in all communities. We are really proud of our care blanket program because it gives people the opportunity to support our mission doing something that they love to do, and gives their work meaning.
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AT T H E C O R E O F O UR WORK
Volunteers WWII Vet Honored
Hosparus Health was proud to honor patient Robert Lathery with a special We Honor Veterans recognition visit recently. Mr. Lathery is a World War II Navy Veteran who was among one of the first groups of soldiers to arrive in Pearl Harbor after the bombing on Dec. 7, 1941. During the visit from one of our veteran volunteers, he received this beautiful patriotic care blanket, one of many handmade and donated by the American Sewing Guild, Louisville Chapter. Thank you to Mr. Lathery for his service to our country, and thanks to ASG - Louisville for their generous support.
Volunteer Makes A Patient’s Day Easier with Handcrafted Vest
Volunteer Terri Conklin made a custom vest for a patient with nephrostomy bags. The vest has two pockets on the inside to hold the bags (the patient had been pinning to their clothes) with a sparkly snap on the outside. She plans to make another one in pink, the patient’s favorite color, but wanted to make sure the prototype would fit just right. Terri said that she saw the request in the newsletter two weeks ago, but wasn’t sure about doing it. When it came up again last week as unfilled, she couldn’t stop thinking about the patient going without something they needed. Holding the vest are Northeast team members: Shelley Hamilton, RN, Clinical Supervisor, Dr. Lori Earnshaw, NE Team Medical Director, and Jennifer Noonan, RN, Clinical Manager.
A creative approach for supporting a patient with dementia
Volunteer Penny Wright has been taking a creative approach for her assignment with a palliative patient with dementia. Retired from a career in art therapy, Penny has been using her amazing art skills to engage her patient. Using whatever is going on around them, Penny creates these scenes and then cuts them up for the patient to assemble. While the patient is working on the puzzles, they talk about the activities. Since she first started visiting with this patient in March, Penny has also taken along coloring books for grown-ups, which they work on together. These are excellent ways to interact with a dementia patient (and great activities for just about any patient.) Penny was a volunteer with Hospice of Louisville back in the 80s. We are so grateful that she found her way back to volunteering with us! Besides her art skills, Penny has a great amount of compassion and patience - two of the most important things to have when volunteering with a dementia patient. She is also willing to take on assignments in zip codes that are harder to fill.
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Molly Demoss, BSN, CPN, CHPPN, Kourageous Kids RN ABOUT
P
assionate, gifted, and personable are three words anyone might use to describe Molly Demoss, RN, of our Kourageous Kids Program at Hosparus Health. Molly has been with Hosparus Health for a little over a year, and previously worked at Kosair Children’s Hospital as a Critical Care Float. She has recently been certified as Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN) and is one of only four in the state of Kentucky with this certification! During a typical day, Molly makes in-person visits to the hospice and palliative kids in the Kourageous Kids program (or as we call them, KKids). These visits may occur in their home, school, daycare, or a facility such as Home of the Innocents or a hospital. Her job entails a large amount of collaboration; on any given day she works with the primary care physicians, specialty physicians, case managers, home health nurses, social workers, pharmacies, and community resources. Molly also works very closely with all the interdisciplinary team members at Hosparus Health.
“Molly is such a knowledgeable and talented nurse, and she generously pours her gifts into caring for our young patients and their families. Her gentle demeanor and authentic heart put patients and their caregivers at ease, and make her an outstanding teammate and colleague.” -Coworker
Outside the medical side of her duties, Molly spends much of her time building relationships with the her patients, their parents and family members; unlike our adult patients, caring for children must be done in a different, delicate way, because they are still only children. Molly likes to build these relationships by playing the LIFE game, Legos, or just holding an infant for a bit to give the parents’ arms a break. Rebecca Simpson, her director, describes Molly as “very thorough; She is dedicated to the KKids program and is caring and passionate about her job. Patients and families love her.” Molly says her ‘why’ stems from her desire to “interact with the kids and their families on a deeper level than putting a Band-Aid on a ‘boo-boo’.” She can build those meaningful relationships and support the kids and their parents “through what may be the most difficult time in their lives,” she states. Outside of her job, she enjoys getting outside to hike, climb, kayak, and raft. She also likes to spend time with her friends and family and watch soccer.
FUN FACTS
Favorite dessert? Brownies (double fudge) If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have? Speak and understand every language! Favorite show you are currently watching on Netflix/Amazon/Cable? The Handmaid's Tale What’s an interesting fact about yourself? I have been on several mission trips including 3 months in Swaziland, Africa. Molly & her niece Emory
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YOUR SPIRITUAL CONNECTION
Chaplain’s Corner
Lessons in Compassion and Resentment By: Dina Carroll
Early in my training, over 25 years ago now, when presenting a case, my supervisor told me a story I have always remembered. It goes something like this: A couple of centuries ago, a monk and a novice were traveling together, from one monastery to another. They came upon a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman was crying, afraid she could not cross the river successfully, and needing to get to a sick family member. She asked if they could help her cross to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had, not only taken vows of celibacy, but also not to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his journey. The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was
Grief Counseling Fall Workshops
speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them. Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself no longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?” The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, you are carrying her all this time.” The point of this story is to always, always have compassion and kindness more than piety. May we all live that way. Yet, I think it has another lesson for us also. The story reminds us how often we carry things with us that happened in the past. We carry hurts and grudges and resentments, perhaps more often than we live in the moment. We all have our share of sorrows and difficulties in life. When it is time, may we put them down and continue on our journey, unencumbered.
Our Grief Counseling Center is hosting multiple family workshop events this fall for families with children ages 6-18. Light lunch provided for all workshops. Space is limited and registration is required. Register by calling 502-456-5451, or online at http://bit.ly/FallFamilyPrograms. Join us for one or all these free gatherings! Saturday, September 14th, 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. History of Cemeteries 101 Location: Cave Hill Cemetery, 701 Baxter Ave, Louisville Learn the history of cemeteries and different burial customs. Families will have time to explore the grounds, discovering all kinds of things you can tell about residents who are buried there. Register by September 11th by noon. Saturday, October 26th, 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dias de los Muertos Location: Hosparus Health Grief Counseling Center, 3526 Ephraim McDowell Drive, Louisville Come learn about this rich tradition which comes from Mexico and Latin American Countries. Celebrate and remember loved ones who have died while creating your own ofrendas and cavaleros. Register by October 23rd by noon. Saturday, November 23rd, 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Setting the Table for Gratitude Location: Hosparus Health Grief Counseling Center, 3526 Ephraim McDowell Drive, Louisville Consider the role of gratitude in grief during this season of Thanksgiving. Make your own “gratitudes”, and consider ways to honor, remember and include deceased loved ones in your family’s holiday traditions. Register by November 20th by noon. Saturday, December 14th, 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Unexpected Gifts Location: Hosparus Health Grief Counseling Center, 3526 Ephraim McDowell Drive, Louisville This is the season of family gatherings and gift-giving, and time to consider the gifts you have received from loved ones who have died. We will make ornaments and other memorials to include these special people in holiday gatherings. Register by December 11th by noon. 11
KEEPING YOU CONNECTED
Community
Across Southern Indiana, Louisville, Central Kentucky, Green River and Barren River
Dr. Snider Talks Myths & Facts on WHAS Great Day Live!
Hosparus Health Minute on Big Dawg Radio This month’s segment on 99.9 The Big Dawg WVLC features HGR’s Carrie Truitt, who shared about ways to support our patients and families by volunteering or donating to the Hosparus Health Thrift Shoppe in Campbellsville. Listen Here
Dr. Snider appeared on Great Day Live’s segment recently to dispel hospice and palliative myths and educate the public about the facts of the compassionate service we provide. Click the video above to watch.
Media Spotlight TV, Radio, & News Appearances
Glasgow Daily Times Hosparus in need of care blankets Glasgow Daily Times Volunteers needed for Hosparus training WAVE 3 Corvette history hits Louisville, all for a good cause Dubois County Free Press Hosparus Health needs volunteers in Dubois County
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Lebanon Enterprise Carrie Truitt Guest Column: Shop for a cause at the Hosparus Health Thrift Shoppe The News-Enterprise Hosparus seeking volunteers for patient support, Thrift Shoppe
KE E P IN G Y O U C ON NECTED
Community
Across Southern Indiana, Louisville, Central Kentucky, Green River and Barren River
Out and About in Our Communities
HGR AT MARION COUNTY SENIOR DAY AT THE FAIR Our team passed out cotton candy at the Marion County Senior Fair this past month. This annual event brings all three Marion county Senior centers together for a fun filled day of music, food, games, prizes and more. Over 150 seniors came out to enjoy the festivities. And we perfected our cotton candy twirling! Pictured in top left: Carrie Truitt, Jen Van Mersbergen, and Larissa Marr.
DUBOIS COUNTY 4H FAIR Lindsey Burger, Outreach Manager, has started spreading information about Hosparus Health services in our new Jasper counties! She recently attended the Dubois County 4H fair to engage with the community.
CAMPBELLSVILLE 4TH OF JULY PARADE Our Campbellsville staff stuffed many napkins in chicken wire to make the float for the parade and float contest. They took home 2nd place! The Campbellsville 4th of July parade is one of the largest parades in the state. It offered a chance for us to show our presence in the community. The staff enjoyed participating and helping out and we couldn’t be more thankful for the great people that work at Green River!
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Y O U ’ R E T H E E XPERT
Blog
Hospice Prison Program Part 2: How One Doctor Eases the ‘Compassionate Release to Death’ By: Sky Kevyn Yeasayer
This week’s blog is the second in a three-part series about Hosparus Health’s volunteer program at the Kentucky State Reformatory, sharing stories of both the inmates who offer companionship and vigil to dying inmates, and the volunteers and staff who support the program. Click here to read Part 1. Dr. George Webb first became involved with Hosparus Health’s prison hospice program in 2004. At the time, he was on staff as Associate Medical Director. Paula Cook (Harshaw), Hosparus Health volunteer services, asked Dr. Webb if he would like to join her and a couple of other volunteers on their scheduled visits to the prison. Dr. Liz McKune, the prison psychologist at the time, then enlisted Dr. Webb to meet with the prison physicians to educate them about hospice and symptom management. While the prison hospice program follows the hospice model of care, there are some differences because of the setting. One of those is the strict limits on what type of medications are used and how they are administered. Throughout his career, Dr. Webb continued to speak with physicians at KSR and at prisons across the state about symptom management and end of life issues. In April 2005, Dr. Webb wrote a column for the Greater Louisville Medical Society called “Released to Death: End of Life Care Behind Walls.” The name of the article came from the way inmates were listed in reports. If an inmate had died in prison, they would be marked “Released to Death.” While the statistics Dr. Webb lists in his article have changed, the trend of an aging population in prison reflects the trend of aging in the United States. In 2013, about ten percent of the nation’s prison inmates were 55 or older. By 2030, it is estimated that one third of all inmates will be over 55. Additionally, prisoners age faster than the general population because they tend to arrive at prison with more health problems or develop them during incarceration. Dr. Webb closed his column with the following: “One of the basic beliefs of hospice is that everyone who has a terminal illness should have the opportunity to die pain free, surrounded by caring people in the location of their choice. Even though we may not be able to change the location of their death, we should be able to offer a death with dignity and compassion for prison inmates. In spite of the fact that these individuals may have participated in some very serious crimes, we should be able to provide compassionate end of life care.” In his role as a medical advisor, Dr. Webb helped the prison volunteers offer more compassionate care. When the program was first started, the inmates could not touch each other. Even the hospice volunteer inmates could not provide the small gesture of a comforting touch with a dying inmate. The first time that Dr. Webb led a training with the infirmary staff about terminal restlessness and suggested touching the patient’s back to help calm them down, he was told that would not be acceptable in prison. Dr. Webb talked with Dr. McKune about the importance of this, and over time permission was granted by the warden. Being able to touch another inmate remains exclusive to the hospice program. In addition to continuing to deliver his training talks, Dr. Webb is a valuable resource to the prison group. In two recent meetings, he discussed some of the prevalent diseases in the prison and answered the numerous medical questions from the inmates.
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Y O U ’ R E T H E E XPERT
Blog
...Continued from page 14 Over the 15 years of his involvement in the program, Dr. Webb has witnessed a lot of turnover in the group of volunteers. He says the current group has become very close, like a family. All the volunteer inmates know all the patients in the hospice program, and in many instances have known some of these inmates for the 20 to 30 years that they’ve been in prison together. The inmates also know patients on the separate dementia ward or throughout the prison population and frequently say, “Keep an eye out on so and so. I’ve noticed they haven’t been themselves lately.” In addition to answering medical questions, Dr. Webb helps the volunteers deal with their grief and loss of their friends. In one recent meeting, Dr. Webb explained to the prisoners the concept of his “grief tank.” He said that as a physician, he saw a lot of death and experienced grief frequently. Now those losses are more personal to him, but all his grief goes into the grief tank, the place near his heart that holds this emotion. He explained how his tank could only hold so much, and then he would need to take care of it, take care of himself, and feel those losses for his grief tank to empty and be able to hold more again. The inmates knew this concept well enough, but didn’t have a way to describe it. Talking about grief normalizes the emotion for the group and creates a safe place for the volunteers to sit with their own. Besides being a resource for the volunteer inmates, Dr. Webb has been an advocate for them and has helped to improve and change the prison hospice program. His work has helped many inmates who are released to death have a more compassionate one. We are so grateful to Dr. Webb for all he does for our prison program! Check the website here for the final installment of our series, a story about some of our volunteer inmates.
A little time... Extra discounts... Great rewards!
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Enjoy live and silent auctions, dinner & a local celebrity dance competition! Tuesday, September 10, 2019 Tickets: $100
2018 W IN NE R Dustin Korb, Marine Corps Veteran and Logistics/S hipping Clerk at Beach Mold & Tool, Inc.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show begins at 7:00 p.m. Huber’s Orchard & Winery Plantation Hall, 19816 Huber Rd, Starlight, IN 2019 Southern Indiana Celebrity Dancers
Josh Johnson Social Media Influencer and Content Creator at The Kentucky Gent
Allison Uhl Broker/Co-Owner of Luxe Real Estate Team at eXp Realty, LLC
Matt Kirchgessner Co-Owner & PGA Professional, Elk Run Golf Club
Kelly McVoy Master Hairstylist, CEO of K4 Security LLC
Jenny Higbie New Albany Floyd County School Board Member and Mother of 4 NAFC Students
Neil Kochert Owner, Neil Kochert Carpentry
Missy Hillock Owner/Innkeeper, Chateau Bourbon
e tickets Employe ff regular are 50% o price! Jocko Joksimovic Financial Advisor for Bluecap Financial
For tickets: Text: DancingStaff19 to 41444 Or click here: igfn.us/f/2diw/n
For more information, visit HosparusHealth.org/DWOSIS or contact Judy Cloud at 502-719-4195.
Watch Last Year’s Highlights Here!
Auction Items Needed!
We are in need of various auction items such as gift cards, experiences, alcohol, etc. to put into silent auction baskets for both our Dancing with Our Southern Indiana Stars & Candle Glow Gala events. If you have something to contribute, please contact Kelsi Dempster, Event & Donor Development Coordinator, kdempster@hosparus.org.
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