RCH Partners with "We Honor Veterans" to Provide Hospice and Palliative Care

It may surprise many people to learn that 25 percent of those who die every year in the U.S. are veterans. To help provide care and support that reflects the important contributions made by these men and women, Redlands Community Hospital (RCH) has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. “Our team is honored to provide hospice care to the men and women who have served this country. The sacrifices they made, and the commitment to the safety and security of this nation should not be forgotten,” says Gerry Smith, RN, MSN, Director of Home Health & Hospice. “We are proud to serve them and their families. This is the driving force behind our commitment to the We Honor Veterans program; service, community and gratitude.” As a We Honor Veterans partner, RCH will implement ongoing veteran-centered education for their staff and volunteers to help improve the care they provide to the veterans they proudly serve. The nation is seeing many of the veterans who served in World War II and the Korean War pass away-and the number of deaths of Vietnam veterans is beginning to rise. The We Honor Veterans campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for veterans. “Partners” can assess their ability to serve veterans, and using resources provided as part of the campaign, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to veterans into their organization. By recognizing the unique needs of our nation’s veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, RCH is better able to accompany and guide veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending. “All hospices are serving veterans, but often aren’t aware of that person’s service in the armed forces,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO. “Through We Honor Veterans, we are taking a giant step forward in helping hospice and palliative care providers understand and serve veterans at the end of life and work more effectively with VA medical facilities in their communities.” “VA shares a common goal with our nation’s hospices, and that is to provide the best possible care specifically tailored for veterans, meeting their goals of care in their preferred setting. As we focus on working together and unite our services and skills, We Honor Veterans will channel our combined strengths directly to veterans - wherever they are receiving care.” We Honor Veterans focuses on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with veteran-centric education of health care staff caring for veterans. To learn more about We Honor Veterans or to support this important work via a secure, online donation, please visit www.wehonorveterans.org.