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Newsletter Spring 2000
by Toni Boelsen

Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester Awarded Accreditation from JCAHO

Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester has achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation of hospices, hospitals, ambulatory care centers and laboratories. Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester received the accreditation award after the JCAHO found it had demonstrated compliance with its national standards for hospice organizations. The on-site survey occurred in mid-February and notification of accreditation came in March.
In becoming accredited Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester was evaluated against a set of national standards by a JCAHO surveyor experienced in the delivery of hospice services.

“Achieving accreditation demonstrates Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester’s commitment to providing high quality care to its patients,” said Maryanne Popovich, R.N., JCAHO Executive Director of home care programs.

George Batten, Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester Executive Director, says accreditation shows that “we make a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. We seek accreditation because we want to be the best and we view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward excellence.”

Mr. Batten noted that accreditation is attainable only through cooperation and communication among staff members.

“Everyone here at Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester plays a valuable role in working to meet the standards. I think our staff, volunteers and board members are to be commended for their hard work and dedication,” said Mr. Batten.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children and Loss: Teleconference April 26

Living with Grief: Children, Adolescents and Loss,” a nationally broadcast live teleconference, brought to you locally by Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester, will focus on ways to help children and adolescents cope with loss, grief and bereavement. The program will offer insight and practical suggestions for those assisting young people with issues that include death, serious illness, divorce, and other traumatic incidents.

Whether children are grieving the loss of a parent or grandparent, or facing the losses involved in relocating or divorce, they ofteh do not know how to cope. Sponsored by the Hospice Foundation of America, it is the seventh annual national bereavement teleconference. This year it includes as moderator: Cokie Roberts, ABC and NPR Correspondent; and, as panelists, Nancy Boyd Webb, DSW, BCD, RPT-S, social worker, expert on play therapy for children; Charles Corr, Ph.D., professor and author of many books on children, adolescents and grief; Kenneth J. Doka, Ph.D., Lutheran minister and professor of gerontology, College of New Rochelle; and Margarita Suarez, RN, PNP, MA, pediatric nurse, teacher, and grief center director. 

The teleconference will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2000, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at SUNY/Westchester Community College, building C200, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla.

For more information, contact Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester at (914) 682-1484.

To register by mail send your name, address, and telephone number and a check for $10 (covers admission and materials) to:

Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester
The Esplanade
Fourth Floor
95 South Broadway
White Plains, NY 10601

For information on hospice services, contact us at (914) 682-1484 or log onto our web site at:
http://www.hospiceofwestchester.com

  
 

 

Second Annual Rainbow Dinner Planned for May 18th

It will be a night of fun and fundraising when Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester hosts its second annual Rainbow Dinner.

The two untiring and dedicated chairwomen, Jaquelyn Pirri and Barbara Vrooman, promise another great event.

The dinner will be held on Thursday, May 18th, at the Scarsdale Golf Club in Hartsdale. Music will be provided by pianist Jeff Rainer. The reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 7 p.m.

Call 682-1484 for tickets.Tickets are $125 per person. Call the hospice office at 682-1484 for more information

  
 

 

Bereavement Groups Offered in White Plains and Port Chester

Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester offers a wide array of specialized support groups for the bereaved. The bereavement program, led by Director, Janice Sauer, CSW-R, runs throughout the year.
“Coping with the loss of a spouse” helps those who have lost a loved one deal with their feelings and understand the grief process.

“Coping with the loss of a parent” offers education and emotional support for those mourning the loss of a parent.

These groups meet for nine sessions every other Tuesday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and alternate between United Hospital (parent loss group) and the Hospice office (spouse loss group).
Registration is required prior to joining any group

While no one is turned away due to an inability to pay, participants are requested to make a donation of $5 to help support the bereavement program.

For information on upcoming groups, contact Janice Sauer, CSW-R at (914) 682-1484, ext. 30.

  
 

 

Meditation and Yoga for Stress Reduction

A workshop introducing meditation and yoga for stress reduction as a tool for coping with grief and loss will be held on Wednesday, May 10th. Joan Gibbons, a certified Kripalu yoga teacher and a yoga therapist at Phoenix Rising, will lead the workshop.

Participants will learn the benefits of basic yoga and meditation in coping with stress.
No previous experience is necessary; however registration is required.

Eat only a light snack and/or meal prior to workshop. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes.
The workshop runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information or to register, please call Janice Sauer at 682-1484, ext. 30.

  
 

 

Complementary Care Program: More Ways to Ease Suffering

Healing sounds, touches, and smells. These are but a few of the offerings of the Complementary Care Program offered by Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester.

“We believe there is a natural fit between the hospice focus of comfort-oriented medical care and alternative therapies,” said Janice Sauer, CSW-R, program coordinator. “We offer our patients a greater choice of options that join these approached to provide the best quality of life possible,” she added.


Nontraditional therapies are available to complement conventional therapies. Available alternate remedies include: music therapy, reflexology, yoga, aromatherapy, massage therapy, and Reiki Feldenkraus movement and therapeutic touch. A therapeutic foot massage performed by a reflexologist may be useful in reducing stress. Aromatherapy promotes relaxation while intentional breathing can help reduce stress and increase energy.

Gentle touch is useful in pain management and in dealing with grief and depression. Creative visualization/guided imagery is a gentle, relaxing process to cope with stress and other feelings.

The Complementary Care Program was developed through the efforts of many hospice staff including Betsy Emerson, Director of Volunteers, and Mark Fialk, M.D., Medical Director.

Any hospice patient or family member can request complementary care therapies. Talk with your physician and your hospice nurse to discuss benefits and any risks.

If you are interested in finding out more about any of these complementary therapies, please speak to a member of the hospice team.

You can reach Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester at (914) 682-1484. 

  
 

 

A new look at www.hospiceofweschester.com

The Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester web site has been up for nearly two years. Originally designed by volunteer Daniel Pomerantz, now a high school freshman, the site has a new look and coordinator!

Dr. Albert C. Parker, a retired obstetrician and gynecologist at United Hospital, took over as Webmaster of the site in February.Dr. Parker, who has created web pages and sites for United Hospital, fellow physicians and his friends, enjoys his new partnership with Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester. 

The site has been updated to include all new and current Hospice programs. Dr. Parker is also working on making it easier for people to contribute to Hospice. A new link on the web page will enable donors to type in their credit card numbers and make a contribution.

Let us know what you think about our new Website!


  

 

Read other Newsletters
Summer 2000 | Spring / Fall 2001

  

 


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