Hospice of the Valley Receives National Recognition for Palliative Care
Martha Cocoros, a nurse for Arizona Palliative Home Care, visits patient Curtis Robinson.
Many elderly or sickly people are cared for by social healthcare services, whether that is through a Lynchburg home care agency or a nursing home. But there comes a time when their medical needs are too great, or that their long and fruitful life is nearing closure. This is when a hospice may be required. The last thing any family or friend wants to do is put their loved one in a hospice for specialized care, however, sometimes it’s a necessity. There are sites, such as marytinc.com, which make it easier for family members and friends to find appropriate care for their loved ones because after all, they still need to be treated with dignity and respect. Hospice of the Valley has been named one of the three nationwide winners of the American Hospital Association’s 2018 Circle of Life Award for providing innovative and compassionate care.
“We are so thrilled and honored to be recognized by one of the nation’s premier healthcare associations for helping to improve quality of life for these seriously ill patients who need special care and support,” said Debbie Shumway, executive director of Hospice of the Valley.
The nonprofit was recognized earlier this year at the Association’s Leadership Summit in San Diego.
Hospice of the Valley has been a leading provider of hospice care in central Arizona for over 40 years and was honored for creating unique home-based palliative programs for those with advanced, chronic illness that were not candidates for hospice.
The organization provides care through virtual visits, in-home visits and 24/7 telephone support nurses to providing effective care coordination, education and encourage conversations about care goals.
Another one of Hospice of the Valley’s innovative programs, the Arizona Palliative Home Care Program, partners with hospitals, healthcare providers and insurance companies to service 500 patients at risk of hospitalization each day.
The organization also provides a program to serve medically fragile patients returning home from the hospital and a program to provide palliative care to those with dementia.
“Patients have peace of mind,” said Gobi Paramanandam, MD, director of AZPHC. “If an issue arises in the middle of the night or on the weekend, they can call us instead of going to the emergency room,” he said. “Our nurses can address the problem on the phone or make a home visit if needed.”
