Profession
AHA honors hospice work
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 27, 2009
Three organizations taking a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to expanding their hospice and palliative care services were recognized in late July with the American Hospital Assn.'s Circle of Life Award.
Four Seasons, a hospice in Flat Rock, N.C., was awarded for expanding its service, covering more patients. In 2002, the hospice provided services to 26% of those who died in the Flat Rock area. By 2009, that figure reached 76%.
The AHA honored Oregon Health & Science University's Palliative Medicine and Comfort Care Team for its research into how palliative care affects health system costs and quality of care. And Wishard Health Services of Indianapolis was recognized for its work as a safety-net hospital. Serving 600 patients a year -- many of whom face poverty, homelessness or serious mental illness -- Wishard works to reconnect dying patients with long-lost family members and to secure public aid.
About 50 nominations were received for the Circle of Life Awards, which are handed out annually.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/07/27/prbf0727.htm.
