Hope Leadership Drives Mission Forward

New Braunfels, TX, February 28, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Restructured leadership at Hope Hospice has allowed for dedicated staff members to be more responsive to the needs of those who Hope serves. New titles and additional responsibilities in job descriptions have allowed the team to maximize efficiency in driving the Hope Hospice mission forward.

In six months of leadership, Deb Houser, CEO has organized the leadership team in a way that allows staff to succeed in various areas of hospice. Our clinical staff successfully meets the needs of customers we serve in our growing census and has placed above average in Quality Assessment/Performance Scores. Houser has overseen several events including a community blood drive, the Tree of Lights in both Canyon Lake and New Braunfels, and our annual Gala that helps raise money to fund our community assistance program. Houser also led a ground-breaking ceremony to expand the Hope Hospice Thrift Shop which continues to grow, generating a record in gross sales for 2012. In addition, volunteer, outreach and bereavement departments continue to thrive and expand under her dedication and leadership.

Clinical Team
Leadership within the clinical area of Hope has restructured to include Heidi Wall as Director of Patient Care Services. The clinical team under Wall has adjusted the admissions process allowing nurses to follow patients on our service from admission to discharge.

Adrienne Ruggles, Quality Assessment/Performance Improvement (QAPI) Coordinator is the critical lens in helping us achieve our quality assessment scores that have made us a commended practice program, especially in Volunteer and Bereavement services.

Dr. Elaine Gilman is now on staff at Hope Hospice, as Chief Medical Officer being the primary physician for patient care.

Bereavement and Outreach
Staff members with new responsibilities include Jane Marie Young, Director of Bereavement Services, who now heads the psychosocial team to include social workers and chaplains in addition to bereavement counselors; and Leslie Ferguson, Director of Communications and Development now heading Hope’s outreach to the medical community in addition to providing an oversight to all community relations and marketing.

Amy Gilbertson is now the Director of Mission Support Services, including responsibilities in Human Resources and meeting our goals with excellence and making improvements to provide the best care for everyone that Hope serves.

Board of Directors
New members of the Hope Hospice and Hope Hospice Foundation Boards have made excellent additions to the oversight at Hope, bringing with them special talents and gifts to make an impact in the community.

New to the Hope Hospice Board of Directors are Mark Rushing, Mike Doherty, Steve Wood, Karen Horan and Kathleen Rockwood, each of which Hope is proud to have lead our team of executive and clinical professionals.

Community leaders, Annette Medina, Wayne Vrba, and Jay Brewer join the Hope Hospice Foundation Board of Directors in helping foster community relationships and further the Foundation’s mission to funding Hope services and programs.

Our mission to provide exemplary care, comfort and education to all affected by life-limiting illness, grief and loss continues to shine in every department under dedicated leaders that aim to go the extra mile in seeing our mission through.

Hope Hospice is the oldest operating not for profit hospice in the central Texas area between San Antonio and Austin. Hope offers patients the opportunity to take control of their care plan and together with their families make the most of their lives when facing the last months of a life-limiting illness. Patients and families are provided a full team of support including physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers to manage pain and symptoms, connect families with available resources and offer emotional and spiritual support. Families are shown how to complete necessary care giving tasks and educated on what to do in a variety of common situations. This education gives them the confidence and skills to keep their loved one at home in the most comfortable setting possible.

Hope Hospice serves Comal, Guadalupe, Caldwell, Hays, Kendall, Blanco, Wilson and northern Bexar counties. Bereavement services are available to families of Hope Hospice patients as well as our neighbors within our service area. Available services include individual and family counseling, support groups, memorial services and a Children’s Grief Program complete with family activities and camps throughout the year.

Hope Hospice is proud to have the support of over 200 volunteers. Volunteers serve in the areas of Bereavement programming, patient care, administration, Thrift Shop, and fundraising. Those who provide companionship visits to patients first complete a 9-week training program.