Giving Back with Compassion and Dedication
hen John Heerema’s mother received hospice care from Hospice of San Joaquin last year, he experienced rsthand the compassionate support that our organization provides. Deeply moved by the care his family received, John decided to give back in a meaningful way by joining the Butter y Auxiliary in Tracy.
“You supported my mom and me in her time of need, and I just want to give back,” John shares.
Since joining, John has become a dedicated volunteer, contributing his time and energy to key fundraisers such as Kentucky Derby West, Sip and Stroll, English Tea, and Egg-stravaganza. John is always eager to help. “It’s fun volunteering. I don’t mind getting dirty and doing the hard work. I am happy to help!”
Beyond event support, John also serves as a Family Team Volunteer, visiting patients to o er companionship and brighten their day. “My goal is to try to get a smile and make their day a little better,” he says.
John’s contribution goes beyond his volunteer work. He has made nancial donations to Hospice of San Joaquin and participates in the annual Tree of Lights ceremony, honoring his parents, Marty and Margaret Heerema.
John’s dedication exempli es the spirit of giving back, making a positive impact on patients, families, and the community. We are grateful and honored to have him as part of the Hospice of San Joaquin family.
BOARD OFFICERS
Paul Balestracci, JD
President
Penny Mallette
Vice President
Sarah Taylor, RN, BSN
Secretary
Gary Cooper
Treasurer
BOARD MEMBERS
Rebecca Burnett, MPA, BSN, RN, CHPN, CHA
Pat Collier, RN, MHSA
Blondell Gage Chism, MD
Rebecca Sanders, RN, MN, CNML
Kirti Solanki, MD
Barbara Galgiani
Gary Pickell, MD
Christine Frey
Frances Langston, BSN, MHSL
VISION
To be the leader in ensuring quality of the journey, from serious illness through end of life.
MISSION
Our Mission is to honor life by ensuring Patients and their Caregivers are the focus of everything we do.
Hospice of San Joaquin 3888 Pacific Avenue Stockton, CA 95204
(209) 957-3888 hospicesj.org
Quality is a Priority at Hospice of San Joaquin
By Deepak Shrivastava, MD and Nicole Berg, RN
Medicare created the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) to evaluate the hospice providers' response to the patient and their family’s needs. e goal is to provide a foundational structure for ensuring quality care. Medicare determines the measures that will be used to meet the quality requirements. Currently, there are four di erent quality measures. Hospice Care Index (HCI), Hospice Visits in the Last Days of Life (HVLDL), Hospice Items Set (SAS), and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS). ere are signi cant penalties for not meeting the Medicare requirements for quality reporting.
Hospice Care Index identi es the current performance of a hospice relative to other hospices. ere are 10 indicators calculated from Medicare claims data. ese include continuous home care (CHC) or general inpatient care (GIP) provided by hospice, gaps in the nursing visits, early live discharges, late live discharges, burdensome transitions (live discharge from hospice followed by hospitalization and subsequent hospice readmission), burdensome transition (live discharges from hospice followed by hospitalization with the patient dying in the hospital), per bene ciary Medicare spending, nurse care minutes per routine home care (RHC) day, skilled nursing minutes on weekends and visit near death.
“Hospice Visits in the Last Days of Life” is constructed from the Medicare hospice claim records. is is an assessment of the number of visits made by RN or MSW on at least two of the last three days of life. e goal of this measure is to improve the quality of care provided in the last days of life when patients experience most symptoms.
“Hospice Items Set” is focused on admission process that includes asking patients about their beliefs and values, treatment preferences, assessment of pain, shortness of breath and other symptoms.
CAHPS Surveys are lled by the patient family which provides a star rating for the hospice ranging from 1-5 stars. Quality of care touches every aspect of hospice as you can see in the following criteria. e hospice sta worked well together as a team to provide care to the hospice patient. e patient received the right amount of medication for his/her pain. e patient received the right amount of help with his/her breathing. e patient was always treated with respect by the hospice team. ey received the right amount of emotional and spiritual support from the hospice sta . e hospice team did something that was inconsistent with the care the patient wanted at the end of life. e hospice did an excellent job of responding to their needs on evenings and weekends. Such remarks directly re ect the quality of the care provided by the hospice team.
Here at Hospice of San Joaquin, quality is at the forefront of our agency. We strive to give our patients and their families the best care and experience possible during the end-of-life stage. Whether it be in their home, a facility, or our own Hospice House, leadership, clinicians, and physicians work in collaboration to develop personalized care plans based on patient needs and symptom management. e quality of our care is tracked through a variety of methods which gives us feedback from families that
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helps us assess their overall satisfaction. Proudly, Hospice of San Joaquin ranks higher than state and national averages across all indicators. ese results along with other regulatory requirements, organizational goals, and Medicare benchmarks are evaluated every month in our Quality
NOV-DEC | TREE OF LIGHTS EVENTS
2024 AT-A-GLANCE
ank you for joining us on one of our Tree of Lights events. From Ripon to Rio Vista, memorial trees shone in memory of all who have come before us. Every light was a precious memory, and every donation made a di erence. With your help, we raised $270,000 toward Hospice of San Joaquin’s non-pro t mission. Your generous donations go right back into the San Joaquin community. When children get the grief support, they need through our Camp Caterpillar program – it’s because of you. When someone without insurance can receive hospice care in their nal days through Charity Care – it’s because of you. When members of the community gather to mourn and heal through one of our many grief support groups – it’s because of you. roughout the year, you can view a copy of the memory boards on our website, along with a gallery of photos from each event. ank you to all of our partners, sponsors and volunteers who make this annual event possible.
San Joaquin
3888 Paci c Avenue
Stockton, CA 95204
“We're the one with the Butterfly”
UPCOMING EVENTS
EGG-STRAVAGANZA
April 12 • 11:00 am Masonic Lodge, Tracy
LODI CAMP CATERPILLAR
March 8 • 8:30 am – 1:30 pm Emanuel Lutheran Church, Lodi Lodi Camp Caterpillar always receives a lot of interest as well as community support. is year we will be holding it again. Camp Caterpillar is a child grief day camp experience for children in kindergarten through 8th grade who have had a loved one die within the last two years. Campers will learn they are not alone in their feelings of grief or their anxiety about the ways their lives have changed. is program is free and open to the public.
A twist on the traditional Easter egg hunt, guests are invited to a vendor-style Egg-stravaganza Spring Luncheon event in Tracy. Participants can walk to stations to purchase eggs, pick up their lunch, and pick up their prize basket at the end of the event. Each egg o ers a chance of winning one of the hundreds of baskets. is is a great event for the whole family.
CHAMPAGNE & ENGLISH TEA
April 26 • 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Church of The Presentation, Stockton
A classic afternoon Champagne and English tea, this elegant event features table settings of beautiful china curated by members of the Butter y Auxiliary. Each table is unique and gives attendees a distinct experience while they enjoy tea sandwiches and small bites. e highly anticipated ra e does not disappoint, with large, bountiful baskets.