Hospice of the North Country 2014 Annual Report

Our Mission, in honoring life, is to help people of the North Country die in spiritual, mental, and physical comfort.

Chief Executive Officer Board President Message

Alice was a visionary for identifying and acting on the need for dignified end-of-life care for residents of the North Country. In the early 1980’s, Alice and her friends introduced hospice care to the community and established goals: provide a volunteer network of support people to aid the patient and family of the terminally ill, and to serve any patient in need of its services. And so began a movement to bring dignity and respect to those with terminal illness, to allow people to spend their last days at home surrounded by family and friends, to bring comfort, and to remind people that every moment counts and should be valued. Alice lived the philosophy that the patient has always been, and must always be, the primary focus. She worked tirelessly towards its success, never once accepting payment for her services. Alice was kind and generous. Her love of life and ability to see the best in others is an example for all of us to follow. We are proud and honored to carry on Alice’s legacy.

We proudly dedicate the 2014 Annual Report in loving memory of Alice Ballard, the heart and soul of

Hospice of the North Country.

Alice Ballard1919-2014

On April 16, 2014, we were deeply saddened by the passing of a loving, caring, and dedicated visionary, Alice Ballard. As many of you know, Alice helped establish our parent organization, Caring Friends that merged with Hospice Care of Clinton County, which became Hospice of the North Country. The movement that she and her friends championed has grown by leaps and bounds; today our patients are experiencing the benefits of pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and perhaps most importantly, the blessing of intangible circumstances: meaningful conversations, forgiveness, freedom, appreciation, security, second chances, and peace of mind. Our team is committed to making the end-of-life journey meaningful for our patients and their families.

Regrettably, there is a message that we hear all too often that is based on fear, misinformation, and lack of knowledge. Patients and families wished that they had called Hospice of the North Country sooner. There are recurrent themes that prevent people from seeking hospice care: fear that they are giving up, the belief that we only care for cancer patients, or the avoidance of difficult conversations with loved ones and health care providers.

We are pleased that we have been able to care for a growing number of patients and families in Clinton and Franklin Counties; however, our team is driven to reach as many people as possible. The faces that you see in this annual report are the compassionate and dedicated employees and volunteers who are carrying on Alice’s legacy to bring dignity and respect to those with terminal illness. With each family we have the honor of serving, we witness a change of heart and a new understanding of the value hospice care holds. Patients and families realize that they are not giving up, in fact, they are enjoying and living life to the fullest and they understand the importance of sharing their end of life wishes with family and their physicians.

We could not fulfill our Mission without the unwavering support of our Board of Directors, Medical Directors, employees, and volunteers. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. We are extremely fortunate to have such amazing support from our communities. We are able to continue our work due to the generous and thoughtful gifts of our donors.

We are not only inspired by Alice’s legacy, we are inspired by the strength and courage of our patients and their families. Thank you for allowing us to walk this journey with you.

Kent W. Brooks, CHPCA Chief Executive Officer

Rebecca PreveBoard of Directors President

Facts & Figures

Statement of Income

Operating Revenue $3,037,509 Operating Expense PatientRelatedExpenses $628,752 Salaries,Wages,andBenefits $1,905,530 AdministrativeandFacilityExpenses $389,002 Total Operating Expenses $2,923,284 Development Income Contributions,Memorials,Bequests $74,950 FundraisingEvents $82,995 Total Non-Operating Income $157,945 Net Income $272,169

Fundraising Events

Plattsburgh Butterfly Release $1,439.32

Malone Butterfly Release $907.62

Franklin County Golf Benefit $6,353.24

Clinton County Golf Benefit $9,298.51

Annual Summer Appeal $9,575.57

Ecumenical Concert $4,934.70

Light Up a Life $40,826.78

2014

Service Statistics

Total Patients Served360

Total Patient Care Days22,177

Average Length of Stay (days)69

Average Daily Census61

49.51%

7.21%

9.18%

3.28%

2.95%

19.02%

2.95%

4.59% 0.33% 0.98%

End-Stage Admitting Diagnosis

Cancer

Dementia/Alzheimer's

Pulmonary

Renal

Liver

Cardiac

Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis

Stroke

HIV

Other

Hospice of the North County is humbled and grateful for the tremendous support we

receive from our donors. As a non-profit organization, our ability to protect the dig-

nity of those with terminal illness, while enhancing quality of life, is made possible by

those who are committed to preserving end-of-life care in the North Country.

United WayWe are proud and honored to be partners with the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. Our

allocation for the 2014 campaign will exceed $44,000. Thank you to

those who designated Hospice as the recipient of your donations.

Highlights

These pages offer a glimpse of some of the caring and dedicated employees who are the heart of our organization—from reception, to nursing, to social work, to finance, to board members, and to quality assurance. Each and every person is devoted to ensuring our patients and families receive exceptional service and care during their deeply personal and challenging journeys.

These photos tell the story of our year in 2014—inspirational and healing memorial services, the generosity of our community members, and our shared laughter and team unity.

During the past year, Hospice of the North Country hosted amazing fundraising and community events; recognized employee accomplishments; welcomed new leadership, and much more.2014 highlights:

Memorial Butterfly Releases •Frank Davio Memorial Golf Benefit •Hospice of the North Country Golf Benefit • In Motion 5K • Light up a Life •Ecumenical Christmas Concert • United Way Annual Campaign • Peebles Department Store’s Community Counts • Plattsburgh Radio Aeromodelers Donation • Northern Insuring Agency Donation • Taylor-Renae LaValley Benefit Concert • Clinton County Board of Realtors Donation • The Champlain Valley Quilters’ Guild Quilt Donation • Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner • National Hospice & Palliative Care Receptions • New CFO, Director of Patient Services, and Director of Operations welcomed •Memorial Services • Employee National Certification • Annual Christmas Party • Staff Development Day • ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Board of Directors

Rebecca PrevePresident

Brian StewartVice President

Susan ScottSecretary

Tim BoshartTom ConlinKjell Dahlen, MDTom GlasgowWilliam MeconiDawn ScottJoanne Swiesz

Medical Directors

Deborah Lang, MDWilliam Pace, MD

Staff

Jessica Arno, LPN Joanie Berthiaume, RN, CHPN, Agency Advancement Coordinator Candy Atkinson, RN, Cases Manager Rebekah Blow, RN, Case Manager Heather Burnell, Payroll and Accounts PayableCheryl Brunet, RN, CHPN, Patient Care CoordinatorMelissa Clark, FNPJackie Cobb, Clinical Administrative Assistant Alyson Curry, LCSW, CCTP, ACHP-SW,Senior Social Worker Nicole Devins, Front Desk/HR CoordinatorBecky Dominy, RN, Case Manager Jessica Dumas, MS, Patient Support Services Coordinator Kim Faubert, RN, Case Manager Kyle Garrant, LPN

Sr. Mary Ann Gour, Spiritual Care CoordinatorHeather Jock, LPN Katie LePage, RN, Case ManagerSusan McDonnell, BSW, Social Worker Ellen Miller, RN, Case ManagerDawn Norcross, MSN, RN, Agency Advancement Coordinator Michelle Rabideau, LPN Diane Roberts, Accounts ReceivableJulie Rowe, Director of Volunteer Services Robin Snide, RN, Case Manager Lisa Wilson, Clinical Administrative Assistant

“Hospice is one of the best services in the community and the entire country. Until you are privileged

to meet the hospice individual you will have no idea how important

staff and volunteers are to the community. Thank you.”

Board of Directors members: Susan Scott, Rebecca Preve, Raeanne McLaughlin

Hospice employees: Rebekah Blow, RN; Lisa Wilson; Jessica Arno, LPN; Kari Reville, RN, Victoria Fiore, RN; Jessica Dumas

Leadership Team

Kent W. Brooks, CHPCAChief Executive OfficerCathlyn LamitieDirector of Development/CommunicationsMagen Renadette, BS, MBAChief Financial OfficerTracey Tavano, MSN, RNDirector of Patient ServicesNatalie WhitehurstDirector of Operations

Clinton County VolunteersPam AnglinGerald BarberHeather BarnesKathy ChaseAmy ClarkGayle CoeKim ColferRobert DavisSarah DeebDina DragoonLouise EvertsNancy FinleyVeronica FranklinAmanda GoodfellowHazel GoughElizabeth GreenShawn HanceKevin KearneyMarge KearneyJanie LetourneauNancy LewinEve McGillJoyce MillerNicole NavarroKaren NoonanHope Edie-ProvostDonald RyanNancy StavesMary Cate TaffnerHarriet TaylorJames BennettDiane LaBombardBonnie Myers

Franklin County VolunteersJean AustinPeg BoyeaShirley ClarkGayle DeWittCaroline DurantMelinda GrattonMary Lou GriffinTerry GumbusNora JanackKysle JohnsonBertha LeavittPhyllis LobdellAshleigh LordJamie LordElizabeth MarshallRobyn MartinShirley MaxwellCarla MelvilleDavid NygardMarilyn NygardLeola PhelpsCindy ShaferDonald SilverJane SmutzLeonard Spinner

Volunteers

Hospice of the North Country is fortunate to have so many caring people who share their time and talents to further our Mission. Volunteers are integral to our success; they provide invaluable assistance, comfort, and support to patients, their families, and the Hospice staff. We are very grateful for their thoughtfulness and hard work.

Volunteer Contributions

Volunteers58

Hours Donated 4,108 (31% increase from 2013)

Miles Driven17,633

Volunteer Service Value$102,964

Kathy ChaseVeronica Franklin Bertha Leavitt

Bertha Leavitt

Annual Dinner & Volunteer Appreciation Celebration

358 Tom Miller RoadPlattsburgh, NY 12901

NON-PROFIT ORG.

US POSTAGE

PAID

PLATTSBURGH, NY

PERMIT NO. 34

Hospice of the North Country is a partner agency with the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.

OUR MISSION, in honoring life, is to help people of the North Country die in spiritual, mental, and physical com-

fort. We support and encourage people and their families to determine their end-of-life care.

OUR VISION, is to give life to the ideal of excellence for our patients, their families, our community, and ourselves.

Distinguished by our compassion, knowledge, and skills, we will be the strongest advocates in the North Country

for death with dignity, grace, and peace.

Serving Clinton and Franklin Counties

358 Tom Miller RoadPlattsburgh, NY 12901518.561.8465

3909 State Route 11Malone, NY 12953518.483.3200

hospicenc.org/hospice of the north country