NEW ORLEANS – The Compassus program serving New Orleans and the surrounding communities achieved Level Three Partnership with We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve end-of-life care for American veterans.
“This Independence Day, and always, we recognize those who selflessly served our country – our veterans,” said Judy Bauer, executive director of Compassus – New Orleans. “One out of four dying Americans is a veteran, so we are passionate about providing quality end-of-life care and working to better understand – through education and training – the unique needs of men and women with military service.”
We Honor Veterans provides educational tools and resources to help hospice providers promote veteran-centered educational activities, increase organizational capacity to serve veterans, develop and/or strengthen strategic partnerships, increase access and improve quality of care.
NHPCO and the VA invite hospice providers to pursue four levels of partnership with the We Honor Veterans program. The first level demonstrates a provider’s commitment to provide relevant education and training for staff and volunteers, and to identify patients with military experience. Subsequent levels require additional education and training, and other activities including community education and outreach to veterans organizations, establishing veteran-specific policies and procedures, and seeking local partnerships with veteran organizations.
“We intend to become a Level 4 Partner before the end of the year. We want patients and families to recognize that our staff is competent and prepared to deliver industry best practices for providing end-of-life care to veterans,” said Bauer.
NHPCO is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the U.S. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.
The mission of the VA is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.
For more information about Compassus – New Orleans or its services, visit www.compassushealthcare.com or call (504) 834-1655.
