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| Name: |
Three Faith-Based Organizations Join Together in Historic Collaboration |
| Date: |
1/31/2012 |
| Author: |
Jessica Scheuerman |
St. Ann’s, Porter Hills Retirement Communities & Services and Clark Retirement Inc. to Create a Faith-Based Hospice Organization GRAND RAPIDS, MI – January 31, 2012 . . . Three, local, faith-based organizations serving older adults in the greater Grand Rapids area have announced their historic collaboration to create a faith-based hospice service organization, called Emmanuel Hospice. Legal papers creating this joint venture, including St. Ann’s, Porter Hills Retirement Communities & Services (Porter Hills) and Clark Retirement Inc. (Clark), were signed yesterday, January 30, 2012. St. Ann’s is owned by the Catholic, Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus; Porter Hills is affiliated with the Presbyterian faith and Clark with the Methodist faith. Emmanuel Hospice will be an ecumenical provider, serving people of all faiths. The new hospice is a separate, private, 501(C) 3, not-for-profit hospice program jointly owned by the three organizations with St. Ann’s being the majority owner at 60% and Porter Hills and Clark each owning 20%. Emmanuel Hospice will be governed by a board of directors that include representatives from each of the three owners, plus additional members selected from the community. The new, faith-based hospice will provide holistic, end-of-life care provided by an inter-disciplinary team and will include: Medical Services o Coordination of care with primary care physicians o Personal care services o Pain management o Durable medical equipment/supplies o Pharmaceuticals Spiritual care Bereavement Social services Volunteer services Ancillary services Commenting on the new Emmanuel Hospice, Sister M. Gabriela, DCJ, interim administrator of St. Ann’s, called the historic joint venture “a continuation of our missions to complete the continuum of care. We are extending our relationship with those we serve in our communities, as well as those who live in their own homes, to the end of their lives.” Porter Hills President/CEO Larry Yachcik added that “with an ever-expanding aging population, the need for hospice services will only increase. This is the correct and ethical stewardship of the resources that are entrusted to us to collaborate in providing hospice services in a time of declining reimbursement.” Bob Perl, President and CEO of Clark added that the collaboration “just makes sense. We are three, faith-based organizations that want to serve our community in providing end-of-life care. Our missions match as do the quality of our governing boards, our leadership and our service to the community.” Emmanuel Hospice will be a community-based service provider, caring for people wherever they are at the end of life. The “spirit and intent of hospice is to care for people where they are physically, emotionally and spiritually,” said Larry Yachcik, “and that is what we want to do.” Sister Gabriela, a member of the Carmelite Sisters, points to the Carmelite “charisms” (an extraordinary power – such as healing -- given a Christian by the Holy Spirit) of fraternity, service and prayer. Sister Gabriela explained the charisms this way: By ‘fraternity” we mean the opportunity to serve more people at the end of life and cherish each life we touch as sacred. “Service” refers to the opportunity to extend into the community and respond to the changing needs and desires of individuals to remain in their homes; and “prayer” is to focus on the spirit and provide the peace that comes with living in God’s presence at the end of life. The three joint venture partners anticipate Emmanuel Hospice being able to serve a limited number of people beginning in late spring. More information will be provided when they obtain full licensure. For more information about Emmanuel Hospice, please contact Sara Lowe, Director of Business Development at St. Ann’s at (616) 453-7715, x 107, cell phone: (616) 723-1407, slowe@stannshome.com. Or contact Mary McLoughlin at (616) 698-0748, cell phone: (616) 340-3784, marytmcl@aol.com. |
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