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Covenant Hospice Wins Prestigious Excellence in Patient Care Award for Overall Service Results

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:00:00 GMT

PENSACOLA, FL - Covenant Hospice has been chosen to receive an Excellence in Patient Care award given by outcomes firm Studer Group. The not-for-profit organization will receive the award-which will be presented at the 8th annual What's Right in Health CareSM conference-for its exemplary overall service results. Studer Group gives its Excellence in Patient Care awards based on high scores an organization has received in exceeding the expectations of those they serve both externally and internally. Covenant Hospice has achieved and maintained high scores in achieving excellent family evaluation of hospice care, meeting patient requests for volunteers, satisfaction of non-physician referral sources and maintaining internal customer satisfaction. For the staff and volunteers at Covenant Hospice, service is about connecting to purpose in all that we do, says Dale O. Knee, CEO of Covenant Hospice. Our goal is to create and deliver innovative services, while...

Covenant Hospice launches pilot program to help bereaved children

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Pensacola- Covenant Hospice announced today the launch of a new pilot program to help children who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. The Butterfly Bag pilot project is part of the Covenant Hospice Children’s Support Services program. The Butterfly Bag is a specialized grief kit to help children express and process their feelings of grief and loss. The Butterfly Bag contains age-appropriate materials that were carefully selected for use with children who have experienced a loss. Also included in the bags is a Parent Pack, which contains helpful information about how to talk to children about issues related to death and dying. The Butterfly Bag program has been generously funded by the Switzer Foundation, the Dugas Family Foundation, and the Community Services Foundation of Bay County. As part of the pilot program, bags will be distributed to children by Covenant Hospice staff in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay Counties in Florida. In the future, the...

Covenant Hospice Help Patients, Families and Friends Stay Connected with New CarePages.com Services

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, FL - Covenant Hospice now offers patients, their families and friends direct access to CarePages.com, an online community of millions of people coming together to share the challenges, hopes and triumphs of anyone facing a life-changing health event.

Through free, personalized CarePages websites, Covenant patients and caregivers relate their stories, post photos and update friends and family instantly. In turn, visitors can send messages of love and encouragement. Carepages will also connect people to Alzheimer’s Family Services (AFS) and the patients and families of the Partners in Care Together for Kids program of Covenant Hospice.

In addition to giving patients and families emotional support, CarePages.com makes it easy for patients and families to recognize Covenant Hospice staff members who have provided superior levels of care. The service also gives them the opportunity to support Covenant Hospice and volunteer efforts.

With this new service, Covenant Hospice is in the forefront of a growing trend among health care providers to improve the overall patient experience by recognizing and meeting their emotional needs.

“CarePages helps Covenant Hospice move forward on one of our key priorities-increasing patient well-being and overall patient and family satisfaction,” said Dale O. Knee, president and CEO of Covenant Hospice. “It’s very easy to use, since we’ve integrated CarePages.com with our own Web site www.Carepages.com/CovenantHospice and other patient services,” said Knee.

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Covenant Hospice receives award for Tuck-in Program

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, FL - Covenant Hospice received the Award of Excellence in Program Innovation for its Tuck-in Program. The award was presented to Sandra Huster, Director of Volunteer Services at the Florida Hospices and Palliative Care’s 2010 Conference, recently held in Orlando. Florida Hospice and Palliative Care (FHPC) created the Awards of Excellence program in order to identify, recognize and showcase outstanding and innovative work of programs and individual staff members across the state of Florida. Covenant Hospice Tuck-in Volunteer Program began in 2008 with just two branches, then quickly grew to all 11 branches by the end of 2008. The program led by volunteers calls patients that reside at home, at weeks end to follow up and prepare the patients for the up-coming weekend. Volunteers ask questions concerning equipment, supplies, medications and pain management. This program helps to ensure Covenant’s promise of quality end-of-life care. The Tuck-in Program reduced...

Covenant Hospice to celebrate National Nurses Week May 6-12

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

PENSACOLA – Covenant Hospice will honor the work of its registered and licensed nurses who provide compassionate hospice and palliative care to individuals facing end-of-life issues during this year's National Nurses Week, celebrated annually May 6-12 throughout the United States. This year, the American Nurses Association has selected "Nurses: Caring Today for a Healthier Tomorrow as the theme for 2010.

Covenant Hospice nurses are specially trained in pain and symptom control techniques that help to alleviate the suffering often associated with a life-limiting illness. Covenant nurses make regularly-scheduled visits, provide patient and family education, skilled patient care, and are available on a 24-hour per day on-call basis for emergencies.

Annually, National Nurses Week begins on May 6, marked as RN Recognition Day, and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession. During this week, nurses at Covenant Hospice will be honored by the non-for-profit organization.

Traditionally, National Nurses Week is devoted to highlighting the diverse ways in which registered nurses, the largest health care profession, are working to improve health care. From bedside nursing in hospitals and long-term care facilities to the halls of research institutions, state legislatures, and Congress, the depth and breadth of the nursing profession is meeting the expanding health care needs of American society.

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National Health Care Decision Day - April 16

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:00:00 GMT

PENSACOLA – Covenant Hospice along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, Covenant Hospice is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives, or living wills in accordance with state laws. NHDD is a grassroots effort to promote advance care planning and healthcare decision making. All Americans are encouraged to voice their wishes and take steps to ensure that their choices are known and protected. The process does not take long and it is free. An advance directive is a legal document that tells healthcare providers who it is that you wish to make medical decisions for you and what treatments you would...

Covenant Hospice and National Association of Social Workers Celebrate National Social Work Month

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Pensacola – Covenant Hospice, along with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) proudly celebrates National Social Work Month 2010. This year’s theme is “Social Workers Inspire Community Action.” In every community, there are people who go above and beyond their usual work to make a significant difference in the lives of thousands. These advocates can come from every discipline, but many times they are social workers.

For example, throughout 34 counties in South Alabama and Northwest Florida Covenant Hospice social workers help patients and families to live with dignity and the highest degree of physical, emotional, social and spiritual comfort. They provide emotional support to the patients and loved ones assist in dealing with closure issues, help in understanding and completing advanced directives, and help in understanding and utilizing Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance benefits. Covenant Hospice social workers may also help patients and families who need financial assistance by identifying and accessing community resources.

“Social workers are essential to our organization, providing services across a wide range of needs,” says Pam Edwards, VP of Clinical Services for Covenant Hospice. “They are individuals with passion and an inherent sense of purpose, who truly inspire.”

Covenant Hospice is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate services to patients and loved ones during times of life-limiting illnesses.

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Covenant Hospice receives grant from Red Ribbon Foundation

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, FL – Covenant Hospice recently received a grant in the amount of $14,000 from the Red Ribbon Foundation to purchase two new state-of-the-art Hill-Rom Care Assist beds and mattresses for the Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Residence. With the generous support of the community during a recent capital campaign, the Residence was expanded from six semi-private rooms to 16 private suites.

In addition to allowing patients dealing with end-of-life issues to sit up while eating, watching TV or visiting, the beds can also be rolled into a common room for meals or outside onto the porch so that patients can enjoy nature. The beds also assist with the prevention of falls, because they are equipped with an alarm that alerts patients trying to get out of bed unassisted.

Red Ribbon Charitable Foundation, Inc. is based in Pensacola, Florida and operates as a 501(c)(3) Public Charitable Foundation. The foundation was endowed in 1995 by Dr. Garry P. Bergeron to support healthy and responsible living through community initiatives for persons living with HIV and AIDS.

Covenant Hospice has received grants and personal gifts over the last 7 months to purchase 11 of the 16 beds needed for the newly expanded Residence.

Covenant Hospice is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate services to patients and loved ones during times of life-limiting illnesses.

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Covenant Hospice receives grant to increase access to hospice and palliative care for rural and homeless Veterans

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, FL – Covenant Hospice recently received a Reaching Out grant from The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the grants program is designed to increase access to hospice and palliative care services for rural and homeless Veterans. Covenant Hospice was one of 18 community-based organizations across the nation to receive the grant. Covenant is working collaboratively with its own community partnerships on innovative programs that aim to provide care and services to veterans at the end of life. The grant will contribute funding to Covenant Hospice for nine months to not only support the success of individual programs, but to ultimately assist the VA in discovering new ways to reach homeless veterans and veterans living in rural areas. Volunteers are needed to help Covenant Hospice reach and serve rural and homeless veterans. For more information please call Keelea LeJeune at 202-0353. Many Americans...

Covenant Hospice and National Association of Social Workers Celebrate National Social Work Month

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Pensacola – Covenant Hospice, along with the National Association of Social Workers
(NASW) proudly celebrates National Social Work Month 2009. This year’s theme, Social Work: Purpose and Possibility, highlights the special characteristics of individuals who choose social work as a profession. Social workers are purpose-driven, compassionate individuals who work across a range of areas to help those most vulnerable in our society.

Covenant Hospice social workers help patients and families to live with dignity and the highest degree of physical, emotional, social and spiritual comfort. They provide emotional support to the patients and loved ones, assist in dealing with closure issues, help in understanding and completing advanced directives, and help in understanding and utilizing Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance benefits. Social workers may also help patients and families who need financial assistance by identifying and accessing community resources.

Grants to Increase Access to Hospice and Palliative Care for Rural and Homeless Veterans Awarded by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:00:00 GMT

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is pleased to announce the recipients of its Reaching Out grants. Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the grants program is designed to increase access to hospice and palliative care services for rural and homeless veterans. Grants have been awarded to eighteen providers that represent a range of community-based organizations. These providers are working collaboratively with their own community partnerships on innovative programs that aim to provide care and services to veterans at the end of life. The grants will contribute funding to each grantee provider for nine months to not only support the success of individual programs, but to ultimately assist the VA in discovering new ways to reach homeless veterans and veterans living in rural areas. Grant Recipients: * Arkansas Hospice, Inc., Hot Springs, AR * California Hospice Foundation, Sacramento, CA * Colorado Center for Hospice &...

Dr. Java Coffee House in Mobile supports Covenant Hospice

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:00:00 GMT

During the month of February, Dr. Java Coffee House will be donating 20% of all art sales from their Spring Exhibit to charity!

Dr. Java Coffee House has come up with a very special idea to encourage art sales and support our local artists in a less than perfect economy. The Spring Exhibit at Dr. Java runs from February 6th - March 31st and will feature work by local artists Derald Eastman and Josh Ashley. Their hope is to inspire fine art sales in support of local artists while boosting support for some of the best and most needy organizations in our community which need our support now more than ever. Buyers will have an opportunity to choose from a number of participating charities, to include Alabama CARES, Covenant Hospice and The Arthritis Foundation.

Dr. Java is located at 5821 Old Shell Road in Mobile.

CUTTING MEDICAID HOSPICE BENEFIT WOULD COST FLORIDA MORE,

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:00 GMT

PENSACOLA – The State of Florida’s proposed elimination of the Medicaid benefit that provides hospice care to some of the state’s most fragile individuals actually would cost Florida millions more than the state currently spends – adding to the state’s budget deficit rather than reducing it – according to a newly released study commissioned by Florida Hospices and Palliative Care (FHPC), the statewide group representing all of the state’s hospice providers including Covenant Hospice. FHPC engaged The Moran Company, a Washington-based health care research and consulting firm, to examine the state’s financial assumptions and develop an independent evaluation of the impact of eliminating the Medicaid Hospice Benefit, as recommended by Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The study reviewed actual state data for fiscal year 2007 and concluded that if the cut had been in place at that time, the state’s health care budget would have been $3.7 million more. In contrast...

Covenant Hospice celebrates National Hospice Month

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Covenant Hospice celebrates National Hospice Month by wearing the hospice awareness ribbon Pensacola, FL - In celebration of National Hospice Month, Covenant Hospice staff and volunteers will be wearing purple and green ribbons designed to create awareness and to promote the outreach of end-of-life care. The purple and green hospice ribbon will focus attention on the special compassionate care available when people need it most. This local ribbon campaign is part of a broader national campaign launched by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) reminding people that hospice is not about how you die, but how you live. There will be a range of activities across the country throughout November focusing on living as fully as possible up until the end of life. Far too many families who have been served by Covenant Hospice reflect back upon the experience and question why they did not seek out hospice care sooner, commented Dale O. Knee, President and CEO of...

Blue Jean & BBQ: Tickets now available

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:00:00 GMT

PRESS RELEASE Sept. 8, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Don Ruth Director, Communications 850-438-9714 or don.ruth@covenanthospice.org 2nd Annual Blue Jeans & BBQ to benefit Covenant Hospice: Bull riding competition returning to Milton Milton, FL – Tickets are on sale now for Covenant Hospice’s Blue Jeans & BBQ Festival and Bull Riding Competition held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at Hayes Ranch, located at 5097 Berryhill Rd. in Milton. Tickets are only $12 prior to the event and $15 at the gate, and children 12 and under are free and eat for only $5. Blue Jeans & BBQ will feature a family festival from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will include a Kiddie Korral complete with games, pony rides, face painting as well as a bar-b-que dinner and special prize drawings including a John Deer lawn mower. The highlight of the festival will be a bull riding competition, which begins at 7:00 p.m. The competition features riders from all over the east...

Covenant Hospice seeks teen volunteers

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

PRESS RELEASE May 28, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Don Ruth (850) 438-9714 (850) 293-2029 Cell Covenant Hospice seeks teen volunteers Pensacola, FL- Covenant Hospice is seeking compassionate teen volunteers who are interested in making a difference in the lives of patients and families facing end-of-life issues. A teen volunteer training workshop will be held from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 11 and June 13 at the Pensacola Covenant Hospice branch office, located at 2001 N. Palafox St. The workshop will educate teens on Covenant Hospice services, and prepares them for volunteering in many areas, including patient/family companionship, nursing home visits, fundraising events, administrative support and much more. The workshop is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided. The contributions made by volunteers allow Covenant...

Covenant Hospice offers Grief Support Group in Milton

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

PRESS RELEASE May 27, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Don Ruth (850) 438-9714 (850) 293-2029 Covenant Hospice offers grief support group in Milton Milton, FL - Feelings of grief and loss can be overwhelming. For this reason, Covenant Hospice will be offering a five-week grief support group in Milton at the Covenant Hospice office, located at 5907 Berryhill Rd. from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 10. Those who attend will have the opportunity to explore their grief in a safe and caring environment. The support group begins on June 10 and will run for five Tuesday mornings through July 8. The support group is free but registration is required. Light refreshments will be served. To register or for additional information call Betsy DeBellis at 202-5930 ext. 1903. Covenant Hospice is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to...

Covenant Hospice offers public tours of new expansion

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT

PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Don Ruth May 22, 2008 (850) 438-9714 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (850) 293-2029 – Cell Covenant Hospice offers public tours of new expansion Pensacola, FL – Beginning Friday, June 6 Covenant Hospice will be offering public tours of the new addition at the Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Inpatient Residence, located at 10075 Hillview Rd. in Pensacola. The tours will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Friday and Sunday, and are free and open to the public. Since 1992, the Joyce Goldenberg Residence has cared for more than 1,200 patients and their families at the facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Residence allows Covenant Hospice to provide compassionate care in a homelike atmosphere for those facing a life-limiting illness and their families. The number of people in the area needing this kind of care has grown substantially. For that reason, Covenant Hospice...

Covenant Hospice wins Torch Award

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT

PRESS RELEASE May 8, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Don Ruth (850) 438-9714 (850) 293-2029 Cell BBB® Foundation announces winners of Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics and Student Ethics Scholarship Pensacola, FL – The Better Business Bureau® Foundation of Northwest Florida announced the winners of the third annual Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics and Student Ethics Scholarship from its District I area which covers Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Covenant Hospice received the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics in the charity category. They include ethics training in their employee orientation and require a refresher course annually for all employees. Covenant Hospice has a number of policies in place to ensure that even when there is a lack of clarity, there are standards in place to guide employees’ decision making. The Torch Award was created to...

Become a Covenant Hospice Volunteer

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jackie Crews Development & PR Manager (251) 478-8671 Office (251) 490-3804 Cell jackie.crews@covenanthospice.org Become a Covenant Hospice Volunteer Mobile, AL— Covenant Hospice, a not-for-profit organization, is seeking compassionate volunteers who are interested in making a difference in the lives of patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses. A volunteer training workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14 at the Covenant Hospice office located at 3201 Dauphin St., Suite D in Mobile. The workshop will discuss the many ways in which volunteers can choose to get involved, including providing patient/family support, visiting nursing homes and assisting with fundraising activities and office tasks. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Even if you only have a little time to...