It’s an award that cannot go without note. According to a quick search there are 246 active hospice agencies in the State of Michigan. Stop and think about that. Major city’s. Major markets that have much bigger budgets and philanthropists. CAHPS is an acronym for “Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems”. It’s a Federal agency and the ratings come from surveys going out to people that Harbor Hospice and Palliative Care has assisted. When your organization is the only one getting it in the entire state of Michigan….it’s time to strut. But this is Harbor Hospice, so dignity and mindfulness comes first as always.
The Award is huge however. To be an agency that works on terminal illness and end of life issues, it’s a huge task. The daily work that is undertaken by the staff that deals directly with patients… well, let’s cut right to it. Harbor Hospice and Palliative Care arrives when people are about to exit. The world of emotions, decisions, fears and questions all come at once, and there you are “boots on the ground” and more than likely, a perfect stranger that comes in to help make everything “ok” when the reality is that you can not avoid the outcome, you can only help bridge the time left. Do believe in angels? Well, if you don’t there may come a day that Harbor Hospice comes in to assist you….you will then.
There an award. Honors. Then comes Honors Elite. Once all the thresholds for honors are met, then the fine tooth comb comes out. Once baseline criteria are met, the agency’s performance is analyzed across 100% of all remaining evaluated quality indicator questions (typically 22 to 24 survey questions regarding quality of care, communication, and emotional support). To win the Elite designation, the agency must score above the national average on every single one of those evaluated questions. Agencies that only clear the benchmark on a partial number of questions receive the standard “Honors” award instead. Not one can go below the national average. Only one out of 249 in Michigan. Harbor Hospice.
Joining us today on the discussion, Ashley Hartzell who is the Director of Home Hospice and Jennifer Chupailo whose role is Director of Access and Quality. They share some thoughts about their work, the overall work of the organization and their teams in it and talk about the care and compassion that permeates all of the culture. With deep understandings of but sides of hospice care, they lead with lived experience and bring those they serve a way to take the final journey with dignity, strength and hopefully as little pain as possible. Hospice care is such an amazing gift, that continues past the loss of an individual and carries on into the family left who continue to grieve and need the support in so many ways.
To think of our town which so often gets the “side eye” from surrounding communities very unjustly, this is one peek at the real gold we possess. Our care and compassion for our own. To see this kind of award in Muskegon, it doesn’t surprise me at all. To be the one who gets to meet up with the people who get to help make it happen? That’s the surprising part to me. I am sure lucky to have a role in the Board of the Foundation for Harbor Hospice.
