NHPCO
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.
With headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, NHPCO advocates for the terminally ill and their families. It also develops public and professional educational programs and materials to enhance understanding and availability of hospice and palliative care; convenes frequent meetings and symposia on emerging issues; provides technical informational resources to its membership; conducts research; monitors Congressional and regulatory activities and works closely with other organizations that share an interest in end of life care.
Hospice Residence Networking
The Hospice Residence Networking Group meets twice a year to share ideas, policies and procedures among other topics in an effort to enhance quality outcomes for hospice patients and families utilizing hospice inpatient facilities in the state of Iowa. The meetings are open to all HPCAI members and focus on issues for existing facilities; however, members in the process of building a hospice facility or with an inpatient bed within an acute care facility are welcome. The facilitators are Rita Lepeska, hospice director of Mercy Hospice in Des Moines and HPCA Board member Chris Oleson, director of Great River Hospice in West Burlington.
Hospice Veteran Partnership of Iowa
As a part of this leadership role, one of the main responsibilities is for HPCAI to be the voice of hospice partners involved in WHV throughout the state with the Hospice-Veteran Partnership (HVP) of Iowa. The HVP holds quarterly state-wide networking calls following the national WHV networking calls. These calls provide hospices the opportunity to make introductions, discuss the national calls, outline goals for the group and brainstorm ideas for future involvement and engagement.
The goal for this partnership is to ultimately encourage hospices to join the WHV program and HVP, support hospices as they implement the program, determine barriers hospices struggle with and get hospices to work together as they serve Veterans. As the state leader of “We Honor Veterans”, HPCAI hopes to increase the program’s awareness among the hospice community and increase hospice participation, improving the quality of life for Iowa’s Veterans.
All hospice agencies in Iowa are welcome to join HVP of Iowa. Members who are interested in joining the program should contact at HPCAI.
- Click here to order Iowa HVP pins for Veteran pinning ceremonies.
- Click here for the interactive map of county Veterans offices and click here for state VA locations.
- Click here for a calendar of Military Events and Days of Observation
We Honor Veterans
“We Honor Veterans” provides tiered recognition to organizations, known as “partners”, that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for Veterans. Partner organizations assess their ability to serve veterans and, using resources provided as part of the program, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to Veterans into their organization.
“We Honor Veterans” continues to serve and inspire hospices as they reach out to Veterans in hospice care, and HPCAI encourages members to embrace this program. For more information about “We Honor Veterans”, click here.