Circles of Influence

Highlights of the Continuing Journey of Past Circle of Life Winners

2010

Organization:  The Department of Veterans Affairs VA New York/New Jersey Healthcare Network, Brooklyn, NY. Innovation highlights were a strong staff education and training program, expansion of palliative care services in intensive care units, community outreach, and data collection to drive quality improvement.

Recent Achievements: VA New York/New Jersey Healthcare Network continues to provide staff education for VA hospitals, VA Community Living Centers, State Veterans Homes, and hospice agencies in the community.  In addition, it continues to offer Communication Skills Laboratories to ICU staff to improve communication through timely family meetings in intensive care and has streamlined electronic data collection and rapid feedback to palliative care teams to promote program development.  Through participation in the We Honor Veterans campaign, a joint collaboration with VA and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, it has enhanced outreach to veterans in the community.  Recently, it received funding to enhance outpatient PC services through collaboration with Primary Care and the newly-developed Patient Aligned Care Teams (VA Patient Centered Medical Home).

Award Impact:  The Circle of Life Award recognition for the New York/New Jersey Healthcare System Network 3 has brought widespread attention to the recent rapid growth of VA hospice and palliative care programs across the nation.  National VA leaders have joined the palliative care staff in VISN 3 to celebrate the award with patients, their families, and community partners, promoting visibility of palliative care and its importance in caring for all veterans with serious, life-limiting illness.

Organization:  Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, Kansas City, MO.  Innovations cited were outpatient services in community oncology clinic, mental health program, and strong palliative care physician leadership.

Recent Achievements:   

• Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care has partnered with The Moyer Foundation to offer Camp Erin in Kansas City. Camp Erin bereavement camp is designed for children 6-16 years of age, and is named in memory of Erin Metcalf a remarkable young woman who died at age 17 and had a remarkable spirit of helping other children.
• KCH&PC was chosen as one of only six healthcare organizations nationwide to partner with the national nonprofit, StoryCorps, during the pilot year of its new initiative, Legacy.  This program is designed to encourage and support the act of reminiscence, and to preserve and share the stories of people with life-limiting conditions.  
• KCH&PC joined the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization's We Honor Veterans program, a collaborative effort with the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
• The grief support series Hold My Hand: Walking with Children & Teens Through Their Grief Journey was developed for parents, guardians, and caregivers of grieving children and teens, or individuals who work with them.  
• A new marketing team has been developed and is bringing greater awareness of our programs to hospitals, physicians, nursing homes and community.

Awards received this past year:

• Dr. Ann Allegre, Director of Medical Programs, received the senior physician award for leadership in end-of-life care in the second annual Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician Awards.  Dr. Allegre is a pioneer in establishing palliative care as a medical specialty.
• Doris Lisenby, volunteer at KCH&PC, received the Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Associations' "Heart of Hospice" Administrative Volunteer Award. 

Award Impact:  Applying for the Circle of Life Award was rigorous but rewarding.