SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Compassus program serving Springfield and the surrounding communities achieved Level Four 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.
“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,” said Amy Winburn, executive director of Compassus – Springfield.
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 fourth and highest level demonstrates a provider’s commitment to improve quality by measuring the impact of VA and community interventions. Preceding levels require community education and outreach to veteran organizations, establishing veteran-specific policies and procedures, and seeking local partnerships with veteran organizations.
“Over the last 12 years, our program has been dedicated to achieve the highest level of partnership with We Honor Veterans,” continued Winburn. “We are very proud of this accomplishment, and look forward to helping other hospice programs across the country learn how to better serve veterans at the end of life with honor, sensitivity and respect.”
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 – Springfield or its services, visit www.compassushealthcare.com or call 417-449-5291.
