Heartbeat March | 2019
A family gathers for the Grief Counseling Center’s Hope & Healing Event
From the CEO...
Finally, Spring has arrived! That means warmer temperatures are on the way and along with a renewed sense of awe as the leaves bud on the trees and the flowers spring from the earth. Nature renews itself every year and this year we are doing the same, renewing and strengthening our processes, our infrastructure, our strategy and even our brand as we continue to grow and thrive. I’ll keep reminding you of our “Year of Strengthening” theme as we work to implement our new HomeCare HomeBase EMR. This gigantic undertaking will involve virtually all our staff and will benefit us and the patients we serve. Our initial discovery meetings with the HCHB team were excellent, and I look forward to providing continual updates on the implementation progress.
Of course, our success starts with you. A special shout out to our Social Workers who get extra special recognition this month during Social Workers Month. Your special way of providing counsel, support and comfort to our patients and families is exceptional and we appreciate you this month and every month. Enjoy reading this month’s edition of the Heartbeat, it’s full of information, resources and important news that keeps us moving with “forward momentum”. Thanks for all you do, and please remember to take a few minutes to stop and smell the flowers this spring.
Phil Marshall
FORWARD MOMENTUM
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
HOPE & HEALING RECAP
The next project coming to a
Featuring Jennifer Conway, HLNE Social Worker.
Read about the event held
computer screen near you! PAGE 2
BLOG “Define A Social Worker,” by Stephanie Garvey
March 3rd. PAGE 16
PAGE 6
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SPREADING T HE WORD
Corporate RL Solutions Hosparus Health is once again bringing innovation to Patient Safety and Quality!
Website Update Stay tuned for a new & improved website as part of our Forward Momentum. In January, the Marketing department and our website vendor, Mightily, held focus groups in Louisville and Elizabethtown with internal staff and external referral sources, patient families, and board members. We gathered great insight into Hosparus Health’s brand. We can’t wait to see how this translates information into our new website!
Hosparus Health uses RL Solutions as our event reporting system. These events include (but are not limited to) the following: • patient-related events • employee-related events • facility events • safety/security events • complaints/feedback It is essential that every employee of Hosparus Health have a user account in the RL Solutions system. Stay tuned as we bring RL6, a mobile friendly option, to RL Solutions!
HomeCare HomeBase (HCHB) is Coming! Discovery Phase has begun on HomeCare HomeBase, our new EMR system. HCHB was on site March 4-7 to meet with our team and review processes, and discuss an implementation time line. We respect and value your feedback! Please send your questions or comments about HCHB to ForwardMomentum@Hosparus.org.
HCHB Implementation Team
Forward Momentum represents the technology, process, and communication upgrades that are underway to accommodate our growth. Want to learn more about Forward Momentum? Watch the video:
Watch the Video 2
S PR E A D I N G T H E W ORD
Corporate Microsoft Office FREE Training
Hosparus Health Heart ConnectionSM Makes Strides Coinciding with Heart Month!
The education department is excited to launch Microsoft Office education to all our staff! This optional, free, offering allows staff to learn new Microsoft Office skills, or brush up on what you have previously learned. Class space is limited, please RSVP to Stephanie Harwood at Sharwood@hosparus.org or 502-814-5405. Click here to view the spring/summer 2019 schedule.
How to Update your Email Signature & Profile Photo with Office 365 Please make sure your email signature on your computer AND all your mobile devices (it’s two separate signatures) are correct and follow brand standards.
The Heart ConnectionSM Program is HERE! As of March 1st the Hosparus Health Heart ConnectionSM program is available to all patients with an appropriate hospice diagnosis, a primary cardiac diagnosis and a PPS of 30% or greater. The pilot provided a lot of wonderful information and we are grateful to all the staff who has helped get the program off the ground. You have made the program the success that it is! Nurses have received an email with additional information, please review it. The Outreach and Marketing team, and Stephanie Alvey Banks are partnering to share this program with the community, doctors and hospitals bringing awareness to cardiac disease. If anyone has any questions, please contact Stephanie Alvey Banks, salvey@hosparus.org.
In addition to email signatures, Office 365 allows for ‘profile pictures’ for your accounts. This lets the person you are emailing see your photo, which is very helpful when working in different communities! Here are instructions on how to update your profile picture:
Update Your Signature & Photo
Need help? Contact Stephanie in Marketing, sgarvey@ hosparus.org.
ICYMI
In Case You Missed It! Recording of the Global Meeting on March 8th:
Click Here
PATIENT SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK MARCH 10 - 16, 2019
March 10-16 was Patient Safety Awareness Week! Here are a few ways we promote safety: • We are Joint Commission accredited, which is considered the gold standard for healthcare quality, safety and performance. • We require 100% Immunizations for staff and volunteers. • We publish internal safety newsletters to highlight the importance of safety procedures. • We perform bi-annual Culture of Safety surveys. • We require participation in emergency management drills in each community, so we are prepared for any natural disaster or human threat situation.
SAFE CARE OUR FOCUS 24/7/365
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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!
SUN. 4/7- SAT. 4/13
TUES. 4/23, 8:45 AM
National Social Work Month
National Volunteer Week
SAT. 3/23, 2 -4 PM
FRI. 4/12- SAT 4/13, 10 AM-3 PM
Volunteer Training- Louisville Where: HL Community Room For more information contact Sky Yeasayer, syeasayer@hosparus.org.
MARCH
Central Kentucky Tea & Auction Where: Pritchard Community Center 404 S. Mulberry, Elizabethtown What: Join the Central Kentucky community at their annual Tea & Auction. Contact Ginny Whitt, gwhitt@ hosparus.org, for tickets. Tickets: $30 each or $240 per table
Bluegrass Festival Rough River Dam State Resort Park
WED. 3/27, 9:00AM
TUES. 4/16
Volunteer Training- Thrift Shoppe Etown Where: HCK Office For more information contact Annette Jones, ajones@hosparus.org.
National Healthcare Decisions Day
SAT. 3/30 National Doctor’s Day
SAT. 3/30, 9:00AM Volunteer Training- Central Kentucky Where: HCK Office For more information contact Annette Jones, ajones@hosparus.org.
APRIL Counseling Awareness Month
WED. 4/3, 8:45 AM Volunteer Training- Southern Indiana Where: HSI Office For more information contact Vonya Gresham, vgresham@hosparus.org.
MON. 4/15, 8:45 AM Volunteer Training- Green River Where: HGR Office, Campbellsville For more information contact Carrie Truitt, ctruitt@hosparus.org.
TUES. 4/23- SAT. 4/27 Festival of Faiths Where: KY Performing Arts Center For more information and tickets visit www.festivaloffaiths.org.
TUES. 4/23, 9 AM- 3PM Volunteer Training- Barren River Where: HBR Office For more information contact Jessica Briley, jbriley@hosparus.org.
National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) Events APRIL 14-27TH
*April 16 is actual National Healthcare Decisions Day What: Hosparus Health, Jewish, Baptist Health, & University of Louisville Traeger Institute are partnering to host events throughout the month of April to encourage the conversation about healthcare decisions. Events Supporting NHDD Hosparus Health is sponsoring the play Grace & Glorie at Bunbury theater, participating in a storytelling event at the Bards Town, and hosting a CME opportunity on Advanced Care Planning. For a schedule of events, view page 5, and for questions contact Stephanie, sgarvey@hosparus.org.
Upcoming... April
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5/1 - Pennies from Heaven 4/24 - Vol. Training HCK Thrift Shoppe 5/?? - Remembering Our Mothers 4/29 - Vol. Training HBR-Glasgow office 5/16 - Vol. Training HGR 5/21 - Vol. Training HGR Thrift Shoppe May 5/24 - Vol. Training HBR Older Americans Month Stroke Awareness Month Mental Health Month Nurses Week
Holidays/Special Days: April 21 - Easter May 4 - Derby May 12- Mother’s Day May 27- Memorial Day
Click Here for the Employee Health March Calendar
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: • $18,539 from the estate of Betty Brown for Hosparus Health of Southern Indiana. • $5,000 from a grateful family. • $4,541 from Katie Ruben who for the second year did a Facebook campaign in memory of her Kourageous Kid son, Meyer Etter. • $10,000 from Norton Healthcare: $6,500 for Kourageous Kids; $1,000 for Hosparus Health Southern Indiana; and $2,500 for our 2019 Gala • We gained our first, new 2019 Autumn Leaf Society member
Congratulations Bob Mueller, SVP Development! Bob was honored this past month with the Louisville Healthcare Commitment to Compassion award! The award honors a group of special individuals who exemplify true compassion in health care. The award winners deserve recognition for improving the lives of those around them, for inspiring and challenging others to be more compassionate. We could not think of a more deserving person. Congrats Bob!
NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS SCHEDULE April 14: Grace & Glorie play and panel discussion Where: Bunbury Theater, Louisville Price: Adult-$22, Student-$10, Senior-$19
April 18: Advanced Care Planning CME Where: Baptist Cancer Center, Louisville To register click here.
April 18: “No Regrets” Storytelling event Where: The Bards Town, Louisville Price: Free
April 27: Grace & Glorie play and panel discussion Where: Bunbury Theater, Louisville Price: Adult-$22, Student-$10, Senior-$19
The Good Stuff
Submitted by patients & families, this is the ‘why’ behind what we do. “Your people attended to my father, who passed in December, and continue to give care and support to my stepmother. I want to thank my father’s main Nurse, Betsy, immensely for her loving service and attention. Thank you for your fine organization.” - Online Form submitted by son of patient
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HERE TO HEL P
Employees
Human Resources, Education and Employee Health News
Employee Recognition Programs The OTT & Shining Star program you already know has a fresh look!
How do I earn an Over the Top (OTT) card or Shining Star? You can earn either of these recognitions by doing what you already do---providing amazing compassionate care and service. • An OTT is designed to recognize greatness from one Hosparus Health employee to another. Ask your manager where the cards are at your location. Complete a card and place in the designated box or submit one using the button below. • A Shining Star recognizes excellent care to a patient and/or their family. It is a way for the families to say thank you to their caregiver and even make a donation to honor them. The Shining Star forms are given to families in their packet, and they may fill them out by hand or online.
Submit an OTT Employee of the Month In addition to our OTT and Shining Star getting a new look, we are featuring an employee every month for our employee spotlight! The employee of the month is chosen by HR based on both OTT and Shining Star recognitions. They will be contacted to answer a few questions for the article, and asked to submit a photo. Keep your eyes out! The next one may be YOU! You will receive an email and TigerText if chosen. February’s Employee of the Month was Tracy Hardin, RN, BSN, of the Southeast Louisville team.
Read Tracy’s article here.
Exiting Employees
Danita Herdt- Team Nurse, HCL Debra Johnson- CNA, HCL Elizabeth Shoemaker, Team Nurse HBR Faith White- Unit Secretary, HICC Geraldine Spalding- CNA, HLSE Jodi Shetter- Medical Records Coord., CORP Kim Arrington- Clinical Social Worker, HLNE Kimberly Hayes- CNA, HLSW Melanie Drury- Visit Nurse, HLNE
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Nicole Brown- CNA, HLSE Pamela Murphy-Burgin- Community Office Assistant, HLSW Rebecca Holloman- Charge Nurse, HICC Rebekah Witherington- Exec. Assistant, CORP Stephanie Lay- RN, HICC Tammy McWhorter- Counselor, HGR Terri Turner- Billing Representative, CORP Wanda Yvonne Hubrich- Exec. Coordinator, CORP
Happy Retirement! After 25 years of service to Hosparus Health, Kim Arrington, HLNE Social Worker, is retiring! Thank you for your service to our patients and families, we hope you have a relaxing retirement!
Welcome New Employees In our recent orientation classes we welcomed the following new employees to our organization!
WELCOME TO:
Andrea L. Edwards- Billing Representative, HL Corp Anna M. Miller- Clinical Manager, HLSE Austin L. Stethen- Counselor – Level I, HSI Charcyce L. Walker- Team Nurse, HLSE Elise B. Lucas- Certified Social Worker, HCL Eron W. Cummins- Medical Records Coord., HL Corp Jordan T. Hayes- On Call Registered Nurse, HGR Kayla D. Kincer- Certified Social Worker, HCK Kelsie O. Cain- Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care Keshia M. Swan- Volunteer Manager (GCC), HL Lenisha D. Stribling- CNA, HCL Melissa V. Green- RN, HICC Patrick “Tyler” Bundy- Facilities Technician I, HL Corp Samantha M. Rouse- Counselor – Level I, HGR Scott A. Herrmann, Sr. Vice President &Chief Strategy Officer, HL-Corp. Tabitha R. Stinnett, Certified Social Worker, HBR
Congratulations!
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN):
To these newly certified staff members CHPNA CNA Nicolette Green Danielle Mills
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. 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.
OTT
Shining Star
Our Shining Star program was created so staff could receive the recognition they deserve from families. Patients and families give a donation to Hosparus Health in honor of a caregiver to say thank you.
Pictured: The Jan 28th classScott, Charcyce, & Kayla
Barren River Misty Basham Central Kentucky Kathleen Nuckols Central Louisville Alicia Woosley, 2 Brenda Synder Joyce Stacy Morgan Martin Green River Monica Pierce, 3 Rosine Edwards
Nurses
Debra Burk Betsy Cambron Karen Thompson Kayla Cain Robert Werner Tracy Hardin
Social Workers Bonnie Isaac Courtney Dilley
Bridget Byers Jessica Aberli Nick Ballard Ketlin Schneider
HICC Amber S, 4 Dana Payne Latonya Benson-Kyle Louisville Caitlin Gonya Charles Moran Cliff Meadows Donna Reaves Heather Cronin Jennifer Fee, 3 Judy Cloud Kelly Messina Megan Godsave, 4 Stacie Russeau, 2 Denise L Stemm
Jessica Ward Kandice Criss Lelehna Elder Lisa Schmidthuber Trey Maddox Louisville Northeast Jennifer Conway Louisville Southeast Jenifer Kitts Louisville Southwest Elizabeth Watson, 2 Sylvia Johnson, 3 Heather Hooper
Chaplains
Lawrence Lucas RoseAnn Harwood Stephen Standiford
Other Staff
Michael Hermanson
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Human Resources, Education and Employee Health News
Jennifer Conway, MSSW, LCSW Level II social worker ABOUT mployees like Jennifer add to the many reasons we are proud to honor and celebrate National Social Worker month. This month marks one year since Jennifer joined Hosparus Health. Before Hosparus Health she did a very different
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type of social work, “I was a shift leader/supervisor for youth at Brooklawn (now Uspiritus), and before that I was a therapist in outpatient mental health at Seven Counties (now Centerstone), that included being a counselor at the Crisis Stabilization Unit with them.” “Jennifer is skilled and acts as a strong Jennifer is now a Level II Social Worker with our Northeast Louisville community, advocate for the needs and desires of serving nursing homes and home teams 1 & 2. Her duties include helping patients the patient. She is a team player, who and their families with DNR forms and wills, working with family dynamics, and is the first to volunteer when there are emotional support. Like many in her field, no day is typical or the same for Jennifer as visit needs within and outside of our she adjusts her care to each patient according to their needs. “I provide a lot of active community. In just 11 months, she has listening to best understand needs and concerns, and I assess situations and perform evaluations to convey information back to members of my team. I provide a safe space proven herself to be one of our most for the patient and family to comfortably express emotions and concerns, all the while valuable social workers.” - Supervisor, Tracy Shah relieving those situations of the medical team so they can focus on medical care.” Jennifer has many reasons why she chose to work for Hosparus Health, but her personal experience with death being an uncovered subject leads her to support those experiencing a loss. “I hope to help others understand that it is OK to talk about the death experience….because they are living it day to day and hopefully our teams and especially myself, can help both the patient and family have a happier end to their life despite whatever may have come prior.” She not only values the work, but her coworkers as well, “I am never alone…I can call on any coworker at any time to gain support, guidance or help. You don’t find that kind of teamwork many places, this work truly takes special people who are 'in it' for the right reason.” Outside of work, Jennifer loves the outdoors and working out at Burn Boot Camp in Crestwood. She also likes to try new places to eat with friends, and cheering on the Louisville Cardinals. She has been married to her husband Matt for five years, and they have 3 furbabies: Trevor- a seven year-old lab, Bear- a three month-old lab puppy, and Molly- a pitt/boxer mix that was supposed to be a foster, but ended up finding her forever home with the family.
FUN FACTS
Favorite musician: Pink or Adele If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Become a true entrepreneur with a successful business that I own. Interesting fact about yourself: I rowed (crew) in high school and later coached. In grade school year I was "most likely to become a counselor," and I ended up becoming a social worker and mental health therapist! Favorite show you are currently watching? New Amsterdam and The Good Doctor
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H E R E TO H E L P
Employees
Tough Questions Q: Is there any way we could get fully electric beds for our patients? It would be very helpful for our patients, families and our workers. It would be easier on the knees and back.
A: Both semi-electric and full-electric beds use motors to raise the head and foot sections of the bed, and the semi-electric
uses a hand crank to raise and lower the bed deck. A full-electric bed is provided to patients when indicated such as when the patient has an elderly/frail caregiver. A full-electric bed is more expensive than the semi-electric bed, and if provided to all patients would require our vendors to replace their current inventory of beds. Since hospices are not reimbursed on a fee for service basis we are continually making critical decisions to manage expenses appropriately. The reimbursement we receive is used to cover the cost of the following items when related to the terminal prognosis: • The team providing the care • Medical equipment • Medications • Therapies needed (speech, physical, and occupational) • Nutritional/dietary evaluations and services • Bereavement services • Respite services Some patients may not have hospice coverage from Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance yet we would still admit them to Hosparus Health and provide all of the above services because it is our mission to serve those in need.
Severe Weather
Severe weather can include hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms including damaging winds, tornadoes, hail, and flooding. For staff in patient homes: • Consult the patient’s disaster plan. • Do not stay in a mobile home during a severe weather emergency • Patients who are unable to be moved to a safe area, as defined in their disaster plan, should be covered with blankets and pillows for protection. • Once the danger has passed, assess the situation for both you and your patient. • Notify your supervisor of your location and condition as soon as possible.
For Staff in offices: • Weather radios are located at each site • The Emergency Notification Messaging System will be initiated by the site Safety Officer • The site Safety Officer/Designee will continue to monitor the weather situation and make announcements within facility for staff to take shelter if condition worsens. • If notified to take shelter, move to the designated safe area in your community facility. • Remain in the designated safe area until the ALL CLEAR is given by the site Safety Officer
WATCH = Conditions are right for severe weather to develop. WARNING = Severe weather has been sighted in the area, and workforce members are to take shelter immediately.
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KEEPING YOU CONNECT ED
Community
Across Southern Indiana, Louisville, Central Kentucky, Green River and Barren River
Staff are Out & About!
One goal in mind: Serving MORE patients LONGER!
Louisville
Central Kentucky
Leah Riggs, Nurse Practitioner, and Kristi Lawrence, RN, along with other HCK team members provided Hosparus 101 and Pain/Symptom Management presentations to a nursing facility.
HCK participating in the Hardin County Chamber Health Expo in February.
Caitlin Gearhart and 2 of our volunteers attended Oldham County YMCA Health Fair.
Green River
The HGR Team dedicated February to “Flourishing our Facilities.� The idea was kicked off at the team meeting by Larissa Marr, Clinical Director.
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Visit to Signature Summit Manor Nursing & Rehab for Hospice, palliative, and Heart Connection education.
Karen Corbin, Jen Van Mersbergen, & Baeda Grimsley were honored to be judges at the Campbellsville nursing and rehab 2019 King/Queen Pageant.
Education on hospice billing & coding and a general overview of hospice and palliative care was provided for the Campbellsville Chapter of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
KE E PI N G Y O U C O N N ECT ED
Community
Across Southern Indiana, Louisville, Central Kentucky, Green River and Barren River
Southern Indiana HSI recently partnered with RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) to bring fresh flower arrangements weekly to our patients at three area nursing homes. We received additional arrangements on our first time out and were able to distribute flowers to other nursing home residents. Volunteers and Volunteer Manager Heather Clark participated in Quilters Day in Shepherdsville. The volunteers shared information on our programs, especially the care blankets for patients.
Barren River & Glasgow
Representatives from Hosparus Health Barren River attended the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet
Puppies being trained as service dogs made an office visit recently. The puppies are with PAWS Farm, and needed to interact with different people to go on to the next part of training.
HBR Team members celebrated patient Mary Logan’s crowning as Valentine Queen. Mary is a resident at Haven Memory Care in Bowling Green, and will soon celebrate her 104th birthday!
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KEEPING YOU CONNECT ED
Community
Across Southern Indiana, Louisville, Central Kentucky, Green River and Barren River
Hosparus Health Minute
This month, Carrie Truitt, HGR Volunteer Manager, and Moira Taylor, Thrift Shoppe Manager, appeared on the Hosparus Health Minute at Big Dawg radio in Campbellsville. The segment is on every 3rd Monday of the month. This month’s segment covered Hosparus Health’s Thrift Shoppe in Campbellsville and the need for volunteers. Listen Here!
A Healthcare Fellow is Among Us! Amy Hill, Executive Director of Psychosocial, Spiritual and Counseling Services, has been named a 2019 Louisville Healthcare Fellow! The Greater Louisville Inc. Health Enterprise Network program is an executive education experience based on Kentucky’s health-related economy, which allows healthrelated executives the opportunity to connect with one another and refine their health-related business acumen. Congrats Amy!
Media Spotlight TV, Radio, & News Appearances
WDRB: Longtime viewer reminisces with WDRB in the Morning team Business First: How Hosparus’ chief strategy officer will tackle his newly created role News Enterprise: Chitwood stays busy in retirement, enjoys Hardin County life WDRB: Day of hope and healing held for families who have lost loved ones to traumatic events
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IN News and Tribune: Rep. Clere seeks to end headaches by entering Indiana into Nurse Licensure Compact News Enterprise: Hosparus to hold annual tea and auction event
AT T HE CORE OF OUR WORK
Volunteers Hosparus Health Ambassador Program Our Ambassador Program is an extension of our outreach and volunteer program. It has officially launched throughout our entire footprint! 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.
Know someone who would make a great ambassador? Fill out this form Welcome to our newest Ambassadors:
LORA JUSTICE Washington Co. Chamber Director & River of Life Church Springfield, KY
JIM BRITT Exec. Director Charter Senior Living Bowling Green, KY
Central Kentucky Volunteer Represents at Twin Lakes Regional Community Health Check Fair Sherree Loewenberg, a volunteer from the Falls of Rough in Grayson County, attended the health fair to educate the public on our services. The fair was held to help the public improve their health, and had over 175 attendees. The Grayson County Gazette did a story on the fair and featured Sherree’s photo to show Hosparus Health was one of the many organization’s in attendance. Thank you Sherree! Read the full story here.
BARBARA BERNARD Member of Grayson County Chamber, Homemakers, Fiddlin’ Festival, & Norton Children’s Volunteer Grayson County, KY
DID YOU KNOW?! Volunteers choose their own schedule. Whether you are working around a job, kids, or traveling-you can volunteer any week, day, hour, or even in any community.
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HE L P I NG NAV I G AT E T HE G RI E V I NG P RO C E S S
Grief Counseling Hope & Healing Recap Thank you to all the staff and volunteers that helped or attended the Hope & Healing program this year. It was an evening of remembrance, sharing stories, and reflection, and as always made an impact on our community.
View Photos from this Year’s Event
Staff Group Counseling Sessions Available Hosparus Health, is committed to providing a world class hospice experience to our patients. At the same time, we want to ensure the well being of our staff who make it possible for us to provide these services. Therefore, we would like to introduce a self-care group for all our staff that are such an important part of our Hosparus Health family. Together we can create an atmosphere of compassion that aligns with our vision, mission, and values at Hosparus Health.
Where: Hosparus Health Grief Counseling Center, 3526 Ephraim McDowell Drive, Louisville When: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month Time: 8:30 to 9:30 am
Starting March 20, 2019
Read More About the Group For more information or to sign up for the group, contact Dr. Meghana Suchak at msuchak@hosparus.org, or 502-8155356. There will be a screening done for this group.
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YOUR SPIRITUAL CONNECTION
Chaplain’s Corner
Spring Brings New Life By: Brandon Cook, Chaplain
Spring is in the air! Sometimes just for a few minutes before winter kicks back in. Recently, several of my patients and families have started to talk about the upcoming spring season: “He only wants to sit on the porch in his wheelchair and feel the sun on his face,” one mother shared. “If we can just make it to spring, things will be so much better. I just can’t stand the dark,” another patient’s spouse reflected. “It has been so cold that I cannot breathe when I open my door. It would be so wonderful to be able to go shopping on my own,” a patient commented. The spring season is more than that though. The longer days bring increased light that raises spirits and dispels the feelings of gloom that are present over winter. The warming weather allows more outside activity. Cultures and religions from around the world have festivals and celebrations: Christianity celebrates Easter, Judaism marks Passover, in India- Holi, or the festival of colors, is celebrated by bonfires and throwing colored pigments. On a more local level, the locals down in Barren River carefully watch the Cedar Sink where the wildflowers in Mammoth Cave National Park bloom first.
But Spring in much more than just an improvement in weather and a time for celebrations. For many people spring represents new life in the world. Out of the detritus of fallen leaves and dead plants comes new shoots. Whether you believe in reincarnation, resurrection, or the continuation of one’s life through family, many people hope that their story does not end at death. In a poem included in Hosparus Health’s Ceremonies of Passage, Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro writes, Life and death, a twisted vine sharing a single root. A water bright green stretching to top a twisted yellow only to wither itself as another green unfolds overhead. One leaf atop another yet under the next; a vibrant tapestry of arcs and falls all in the act of becoming. Death is the passing of life. And life is the stringing together of so many little passings. As you spend time with patients this time of year, listen to how reaching spring shapes their outlook on life. What new hopes are they feeling? What rituals are they participating in? How can our team help to facilitate the spiritual journey that they are on?
Just For Fun And the Oscar goes to... A hospice inspired short film called End Game was in the running for an Academy Award this year, and aims to change the way we talk about life and death by shining a light on hospice and palliative care. Although the film lost in the “short film” category, the fact that it was a nominee and had a light shined on it is great for Hosparus Health and the work we do. Read more about End Game and watch the trailer End Game is available on Netflix.
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Y O U ’ R E T H E E XPERT
Blog
Define a Social Worker
By: Stephanie Garvey, Marketing Coordinator What comes to mind when you hear the term “social worker?” Depending on your personal experiences, you may think of a couple of types of social workers like a school social worker, or one that helps children in ‘the system.’ One type of social worker that may not come to your mind is one that helps the seriously ill and their families, like the social workers at Hosparus Health. Although these are all social workers—can you describe what they do? The National Association of Social Workers states there is an estimated 682,000 social workers in the United States, and it is one of the fastest growing professions in the country. Social work is a profession that helps people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Sounds pretty important, doesn’t it? At Hosparus Health, social workers are one piece of our interdisciplinary care teams that are part of each patient’s care, whether in our hospice program or palliative care program. They are not the obvious team member, like the doctor, nurse, or CNA, and they don’t do the ‘obvious’ tasks—however they sometimes do the most meaningful and stress relieving tasks that can change the entire end of life experience for a family. I sat down with a few of our social workers and asked them questions about the job in general, and at Hosparus Health in particular, and found out that even I had a thing or two to learn. On an average day, how many families do you meet with? If the social worker is ‘in the field’ or does patient care directly, they may have 3-5 visits in person a day and do an additional couple of phone calls to patients. What types of tasks/help do you provide as a social worker at Hosparus Health? We journey with patients and their families with an empathetic approach to discover their needs. We create a space for them to be their authentic selves. Once we understand those needs, we create an actionable plan to respond--this looks different for every person. That plan may include: advanced directives, living wills, POA’s, obtaining a lost social security card, getting approval for a member of the military to come home for the death of their parent, securing a safe place for a patient to live out the last days of their life, assisting with Medicaid paperwork, and providing other external resources.
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If you had to define a Hosparus Health social worker, how would you? A Hosparus Health social worker… - is a trained mental health professional, that assists with all psychosocial needs, including emotional support and day to day resources. - meets with the patient and family to assess their needs at that time, to help them set goals and help them be independent and functioning as they can as long as they can. They think outside the box, things aren’t black and white. They really are advocates for the patient and their requests. Largest misconception about what you do? - people think we are just “do gooders” versus an actual identified profession with a degree and many licenses - people think we just help people get on Medicaid. - “I don’t need anything specific, I don’t need a social worker,” people think if they don’t have a “problem” they don’t need us. Favorite part about what you do? It’s a privilege to meet a complete stranger that opens up their life to us and we get to partner with them for the final days of their life— this creates a special bond—we get to hold respect, hold space in their lives, and be supportive. We love meeting the people and being a part of that journey. Fill in the blank: I could not do my job without my _______ - A calling. It’s hard work, and a calling is a reason to do it. - The support of fellow social workers at Hosparus Health, I need their engagement, knowledge, and expertise. What is the most off the wall experience you have had or done that when you think of it you say “wow, yeah, that REALLY happened” or “I can’t believe I accomplished that one?” There were MANY stories for this answer, as one can imagine. But here were a few of my favorite: - One time, I had a patient’s cat get in my car, eat my sandwich, and then just stayed there. I didn’t notice until I got down the road. - I had to get a ride to a house up a hill during an ice storm on a sled pulled by a 4-wheeler. However, to get back down the hill we had to scoot on our bottoms. True story…really! - Getting to a patient’s home in a flood sometimes calls for water patrol and a canoe. - Getting all my documentation for all my patients done before 6 pm is usually an accomplishment (although mundane). All in a day’s work as a Hosparus Health social worker.