About Hospice of Hillsdale County
Staff | Philosophy | Spirituality | Services Provided | Community Services | Certification | Funding
Our hospice is a community based in-home care program. We are a non-profit independent hospice not affiliated with any other organization.
Hospice of Hillsdale County was organized in August of 1983 after a group of county residents saw a need for care of the terminal patient. Larry and Jane Fowler were instrumental in the development of our county hospice. Dr. Fowler was the first medical director and Jane the first program director. The first hospice patient was admitted to our program in 1984. Since then we have served over 1,573 patients.
In 2005 our average daily census was 15.7 patients and our average length of stay was 48 days. 119 patients and hospice families were served. 91 patients died in hospice care. The total number of days hospice care was provided in 2005 was 5,785 (days) and we provided 170 days of free care.
| Patient Care Coordinator | Gwen Hollenbaugh, RN |
| Medical Director | Dr. L. Dustin Kimball III |
| Staff Nurse | Linda Griffiths, RN |
| Joyce Haarer, RN | |
| Judy Hoath, RN, FNP | |
| Ruth Hoffman, RN, BSN | |
| Helen Jakstas, RN, FNP, CS | |
| Jennifer Puckett, RN | |
| Christine Stewart, RN | |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Janet Major, LPN |
| Certified Home Health Aides | Bekha Martens, CENA |
| April Lane, CENA | |
| Coordinator of Volunteers | Kathy Beauchamp |
| Social Worker/Bereavement Coord. | Kristina Gonzalez, LBSW |
| Bereavement Counselor | Lora Ward, MA, LLPC |
| Spiritual Advisor | Samuel Wickard, D.MIN |
| Registered Dietician | Denise Lovinger, RD |
| Office Manager | Marsha Fleetham |
| Secretary | Rachel Kies |
Board Members
| President | Tom Osborne |
| Vice President | Sara Lisznyai |
| Secretary | Nancy Christopherson |
| Treasurer | Pete Bildner |
| Other Members | Ray Anderson |
| Dr. Leslie Bennett | |
| Reverand Julie Carey | |
| Maxine Gaffney | |
| Keith Lewis | |
| Mark Monohan | |
| Jane Nash | |
| Terry Hoag | |
| Debbie Smith | |
| David Lipps | |
| Bobbi Byrd |
The Hospice team of professional staff and volunteers utilizes a holistic "physical, social, emotional, and spiritual" approach that maintains each patient's dignity through demonstration of their choices at the end of life and continuing with on-going grief support for loved ones.
Our program philosophy is based upon these main points:
- Death is a natural part of life.
- Each individual has a right to be comfortable until they die.
- Social, emotional and spiritual needs are as important as physical needs.
- Patient independence and control is promoted.
- Isolation and abandonment is lessened.
- Individual values, preferences and outlook on life are recognized.
- Hospice services are available to all persons of any age.
When a cure for illness is no longer attainable or being sought, hospice care is designed to relieve suffering and pain so the patient's remaining months at home may be spent with quality and dignity. When medical science can no longer add more days to life, hospice adds more life to every day.
In keeping with our mission we accept all patients without regard to disease, race, religion, age, sex, handicap, or ability to pay. The hospice team of professional staff and trained volunteers has a mission of tending to each patient and their family. We dedicate ourselves to do all we can, because we believe:
"You matter because you are you. You matter to the last minute of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to help you life until you die." - Dr. Dame Cicely Saunders
The Spiritual Aspect of Hospice Care
In more recent years the medical community has recognized the value of spirituality to one's health and well-being and has validated spiritual needs as worthy of being addressed in patients. Hospice care addresses the needs of the whole person; physical, social, emotional and spiritual. Spiritual needs are addressed on an individual basis. Hospice works closely with the patient's church or pastor to meet the unique needs of each patient and family. Hospice staff and volunteers are encouraged to offer support through listening, reading and prayer. Hospice spiritual counselors are also available to help with their spirtual and religious needs as they cope with the illness. If they choose not to see a pastor or discuss spiritual matters we respect that choice. Hospice spiritual counselors offer prayer, help patients address life closure and the meaning of life, assistance with funeral arrangements, memorial services and in-service education.
Hospice of Hillsdale County provides the following services:
- Intermittent nursing visits by a Registered Nurse based on patient need
- 24 hour on-call availability of a Registered Nurse and the Hospice team
- Home health aide and homemaker services
- Pain and symptom management
- Physician services
- Medications that are related to the terminal diagnosis
- Medical supplies and equipment including oxygen
- Physical, speech and occupational therapy if needed
- Nutritional guidance and supplements
- Short term inpatient care for pain control or rest
- Medical social work services
- Trained volunteer support for respite, companionship and transportation
- Pastoral care for spiritual support
- Bereavement care for the family for 14 months after the death
- Continuous care when the patient is dying and pronouncement of death by the Hospice nurse with no need for an ambulance, police or coroner
Hospice also provides these community services free of charge to those in need:
- Greif recovery support groups held three times each year
- Individual grief support
- Camp Courage, a children's grief camp
- Annual memorial services
- Sponsor of national grief teleconference
- Monthly bereavement mailings sent for 14 months after the death
- Loan library which includes books and videos on assorted topics
- Speakers bureau
- Bi-weekly social group for bereaved
Hospice of Hillsdale County is a member of the National Hospice Organization, the Michigan Hospice Organization, and the Hillsdale Chamber of Commerce.
Our program became licensed by the Michigan Department of Community Health in May of 1991 and certified by that same agency in September of 1992. We are periodically recertified by that agency with unannounced comprehensive surveys. Our organization is preparing for Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations accreditation. Being certified allows us to bill insurance companies for the care and supplies we provide to our patients. We bill Medicare, Medicaid, BCBS, and all other private insurance companies.
Our major funding sources are Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies. In most cases insurance companies pay us a daily rate for every day the patient is in hospice care (Medicare is $120.36 per day, Medicaid is $120.52 per day). Private company rates are negotiated, usually paying the Medicare rate.
Memorials and donations to our program in 2005 totaled $51,828. Unlike some organizations, 100% of all our memorials and donations are used toward services for Hillsdale Comunity hospice patients. Tax-deductible contributions to Hospice of Hillsdale County are greatly appreciated and will support services to our patients and families. Hospice of Hillsdale County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Donations may be made in the form of checks, cash, stocks or in-kind contributions.
Because the hospice benefit under Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance does not cover all expenses other income is necessary. Country Hoe Down, Thunder Ride, pie sale, bowl-a-thon, fair raffle and annual November appeal letter are planned fund-raising events. Income from fundraising events in 2005 totaled $50,299. We are so grateful to the many people who continue to support our program ensuring that quality hospice services will continue in Hillsdale County for years to come.
76 active hospice volunteers make up our volunteer program. These individuals who recieve 30 hours of training prior to their work are a most important component of our team. Volunteer training includes death and dying education, communication skills, the roles of team members, spiritual and bereavement care, infection control and stress reduction. Ten hours each year of continuing education is required to be an active hospice volunteer. Ongoing inservice education is offered on a monthly basis on various topics. In 2005, our volunteers contributed more than 2,946 hours which included companionship, household chores, errands, transporting, fundraising, office and board work. Hospice regulations mandate that volunteers must provide at least 5% of the total patient care hours of all paid staff. In 2005, 43% of our hours were provided by hospice volunteers. In 2005, our volunteers traveled 11,015 miles. Hospice is the only Medicare program that mandates volunteer involvement.
"Most of us do no great things, we do little things with great love." - Mother Teresa