NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Compassus program serving New Orleans and the surrounding communities today announced it has 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 working to best understand and provide – through education and training – the unique needs of men and women with military service,” said Judy Bauer, executive director of Compassus – New Orleans. “The courageous service of our veterans, who are among our community’s most valuable members, should be honored with the highest quality end-of-life care.”
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.
“We are very proud of this accomplishment, and look forward to helping other hospice programs across the country learn the necessary skills to serve and honor these men and women with the dignity they deserve at the end of life,” continued 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 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.compassus.com/metairie or call (504) 264-6893.
