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Covenant Hospice achieves We Honor Veterans Partner Level Two Status

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, Fla.- Covenant Hospice announced today the not-for-profit organization has met the strict requirements to reach Partner Level Two Status with the We Honor Veterans campaign. This accomplishment exhibits a sound commitment to serving our nations heroes. Earlier this year, Covenant Hospice became a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the department of Veterans Affairs. As a Level Two partner, Covenant Hospice will be required to further show their capacity to provide quality care for Veterans. In June, the organization obtained Partner Level One Status by creating Veteran-specific educational material and providing presentations to staff, volunteers and the community. Covenant Hospice has partnered with local organizations to collaboratively serve Veterans and has participated in community events such as the Emerald...

Covenant Hospice raises awareness during Hospice and Palliative Care Month

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, Fla.- Covenant Hospice wants to share an important message with the community this November during National Hospice and Palliative Care Month: Hospice and palliative care providers take the time to make sure patients understand their illness and what care options might be available. Patient wishes are a top priority and caregivers make sure they get the quality, compassionate care they want and deserve. We work hard all year to make sure people know that support, comfort and respect are available at a time when hope seems out of reach, said Dale O. Knee, Covenant Hospice President & CEO. Yet during November, we ramp up our efforts to raise awareness of the high-quality care that's available during one of life's most challenging times. Hospice care provides expert pain management, symptom control, psycho-social support and spiritual care to patients and families when a cure is not possible. All the...

Covenant Hospice to celebrate National Nursing Assistants Week

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:00:00 GMT

PENSACOLA– Covenant Hospice will honor the work of its Nursing Assistants who provide compassionate hospice and palliative care to individuals facing end-of-life issues during this year's National Nursing Assistants Week, celebrated June 16-23 throughout the United States.

The Hospice Aide give “hands on” or personal care which includes: bathing, dressing, hygienic care, light housekeeping, and simple meal preparation. Many of the Hospice Aides at Covenant Hospice are Certified Hospice and Palliative Care professionals and have years of experience working with hospice patients.

National Nursing Assistants Week begins on June 16, marked as Career Nursing Assistants Day, which is set aside each year to recognize longevity of service, special contributions to care practices and accomplishments of the nursing assistants who have made caring their life career.

These important workers have various titles including: Nursing Assistant, Nurse Aide, Care Assistant, Caregiver, In-Home Care Aide, Resident Assistant, Hospice Aide, Geriatric Aide, Restorative Aide, Health Care Assistant, and others.

Nursing Assistants provide predictability and stability to care, which in turn enhances the feeling of security for our aging, frail, or chronically challenged citizens. They bring wisdom, patience, humor, and a general attitude of caring to the daily lives of these people.

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Covenant Hospice earns accredited deemed status from Joint Commission

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, FL – Covenant Hospice was recently granted deemed status Accreditation from the Joint Commission for all of its Florida and Alabama branch offices, and inpatient facilities. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

“The greatest satisfaction we received from our recent survey was the strong praise given to our staff and volunteers in their delivery of patient care,” said Liz Kuehn, VP, Organizational Excellence and Corporate Compliance for Covenant Hospice. “We work very hard to provide compassionate, quality care and that came through in the surveyors’ evaluation of our organization.”

In March of this year, Covenant Hospice successfully participated in an unannounced resurvey for the purposes of assessing compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation for hospice agencies, in addition to Joint Commission’s own Accreditation Standards,through the Joint Commission’s deemed status survey process. The Joint Commission also recommended Covenant Hospice for continued Medicare certification.

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Covenant Hospice President & CEO elected National Director for NHPCO

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:00:00 GMT

PENSACOLA, FL – Covenant Hospice President & CEO, Dale O. Knee was recently elected as National Director for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization for 2011 thru 2013. Knee has served as President & CEO of Covenant Hospice since 1993, and has over 38 years experience in healthcare, 17 of which have been in the area of end-of-life care and post-acute care.

Knee is a member of the Florida Hospices and Palliative Care Organization, the Alabama Hospice Organization, and the National Hospice Work Group. He also has over 25 years experience in teaching at the university level and currently is Adjunct Professor for Healthcare Administration and Policy at the University of West Florida.

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. The focus of Covenant Hospice is to enable its patients to live as fully and comfortably as possible, to provide dignified palliative care, to assist patients’ loved ones in coping with end-of-life issues and the eventual death of the patient, and to improve care for all patients at the end of their lives by example and education.

Covenant Hospice Celebrates Seasons of Caring during

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, FL- Hospice care helps patients and families focus on living. This is the message that Covenant Hospiceis sharing with the community during National Hospice Month. However, this important message lasts beyond the month of November and is important all year round. November is a valuable time to raise awareness throughout our community about care at the end of life, said Dale O. Knee, Covenant Hospice President & CEO. But the time a family might need us doesn't follow a calendar or occur only during this season, so our message must make an impression that stays with people all year long. Every November hospices across the country reach out to raise awareness of the compassionate care that hospice and palliative care provide patients and families coping with serious and life-limiting illness. The Seasons of Caring theme reminds people that life's final seasons can be some of the most fulfilling, especially when patients and families look to...

Covenant Hospice to celebrate Pastoral Care Week

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Pensacola, FL – Covenant Hospice will honor the contributions of its dedicated chaplains during Pastoral Care Week, October 24 - 30. Each daypastoral care givers are invited into the life experiences of women, men, children, and organizations. Faith can be tested and questions arise about the meaning of suffering and pain. Pastoral caregivers bring many gifts to the process of healing and wholeness. They are trained to help individuals draw on their own faith traditions and teachings for comfort and guidance as they walk through dark valleys.

In 2009, Covenant Hospice chaplains made over 23,000 calls and visits to patients facing life-limiting illnesses and their families, and were asked to officiate at 650 funerals.

Held first in 1984, Pastoral Care Week is sponsored by the Coalition on Ministry in Specialized Settings Network (COMISS) a national organization of pastoral care providers, pastoral care professionals, and faith group endorsers. The week-long observance promotes spiritual values as a part of the healing process and invites us to celebrate the work of caregivers in such settings as hospitals, hospices and nursing homes.

Covenant Hospice Expands Program to Help Bereaved Children

noemail@covenanthospice.org — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Tallahassee, FL- Covenant Hospice announced today the expansion of a program to help children who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. The Butterfly Bag 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. As part of the program expansion, bags will now be available for distribution to children by Covenant Hospice staff in Leon, Franklin, Liberty, Wakulla, Gadsden, Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor Counties in Florida. In 2011, the not-for-profit organization plans to expand the availability of the Butterfly Bags throughout its entire service area....

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.