1

A Letter from the Barrys and The Leavy Fundraiser ................2

Upcoming Events and Spring Fling a Success ............................3

News from the Volunteer Office ......................4-5

Many Thanks ............................6-7

We Honor Veterans Program .......................................7

From the Bereavement Center ...........................................7

Spring/Summer 2012

Inside this Issue

A publication for the friends, volunteers and supporters of Hospice of St. Mary’s

Concerning…

Many articles come across my desk- some with good news tidbits and

some with concerning information. This one was concerning- but not unexpected, as we have seen this first hand here at Hospice of St. Mary’s.

Average Hospice Length of Stay is Falling By Kevin B. O’Reilly, amednews staff. Posted February 1, 2012

Amid scrutiny from regulators and researchers about potential abuse of the Medicare hospice benefit, data released in January show that patient lengths of stay in hospice fell slightly in 2010.

The average length of stay in hospice care decreased to 67.4 days, down from 69.5 in 2008, according to data collected by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, which represents about two-thirds of the nation’s more than 5,000 for-profit and nonprofit hospices.

By Kathy Franzen, Director

Flooring Max and Lola Belle Co. will

be teaming up with a Hunter Douglas representative on

Thursday, September 27, 2012

for an evening of Home

Decorating Tips

Visit our website at www.hospiceofstmarys.

org for updated information and to purchase tickets.

Light refreshments will be served.

A portion of the sales will benefit Hospice.

Mark your calendars! Hospice House of St. Mary’s FY12 statistics show our average length of stay to be 40 days, down from 42 days in FY11. Our median length of stay in FY 12 was 14 days, down from 18.5 days in FY11. In FY12 we had 344 admissions to care. In FY11 we had 311 admissions. So we are serving more patients, but for a much shorter length of time.

Length of stay is directly related to two of the hospice quality indicators we track. The first indicator is confidence doing what is needed to care for the patient. The other is confidence knowing what to do at time of death. We benchmark ourselves against state and national statistics. To be honest we struggle with these indicators and currently are still working to exceed the benchmark. We are always concerned with the quality of our care and plan to address these two indicators with a Performance Improvement Project. Staff tell me it’s hard to empower families to feel confident when we have patients such a short period of time. We will always continue to give our patients and families the care they need and deserve- despite the short period of time we have them in our care.

2

Board of DirectorsBeth Cooper-Joseph, President

Maria Morgan, Vice PresidentRichard Braam, Treasurer

Christine R. Wray, Secretary Cindy Beakes

Jan Barnes Laura Clarke

Nancy GlocknerEve Love

Jennifer OverstreetMaryAnn Stamm

Pam Veitch

Our Mission

Kathy Franzen, DirectorTara Wood, Assistant Director

Jennifer Schmidt, DO, Medical DirectorKaren Bauer, MD, Assistant Medical Director

John Ball, Chaplain Pam Brookbank, Medical Social Worker

Ann Byrne, Registered NursePeggy Crim, Registered Nurse

Shawn Curtis, Hospice AideKaty Crowell, Volunteer Coordinator

Marsha Day, SecretaryMary Day, Registered Nurse

Kimmie Gibson, Registered NurseRebekah Guyther, Business Coordinator

Elizabeth Holdsworth, Medical Social WorkerCathy Humphries, Registered Nurse

Jessica Long, Hospice Aide Kirsten Jordan, Hospice Aide

Monica Juran, Registered NurseCindy Parlin, Medical Social Worker

Esther Palma, Bereavement Coordinator Lawanda Shively, Hospice Aide

Moneta Strickland, Hospice AideJeanie Whorl, Hospice Aide

Lydia Wilkinson, Secretary Cindy Wolf, Registered Nurse

Heather Wolfe, Bereavement CoordinatorChris Young, Registered Nurse

Hospice House AssociatesNancy Sperbeck, RN, House Manager

Val Abell, Med TechTawnyada Allen, Med Tech

Chrissy Barber, Hospice AideSue Browne, Med Tech

Michelle Cable, Med TechLisa Estes, Med Tech

Joyce Murphy, Med TechSally Raley, Med Tech

Karen Svoboda, Med TechHeather Unkle, Med Tech

Lisa Wilds, Med TechTracy Wilkinson, LPN

Alicia Wood, Med Tech

The mission of Hospice of St. Mary’s is to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support

to terminally ill patients and their families and bereavement care to

those families and the community.

Hospice Associates

Camryn Leavy, a fifth grader at Hol-lywood Elementary School, recently

completed a fundraiser at her school with all money raised being donated to Hos-pice of St. Mary’s. Camryn’s mom, Erin Mattingly, received care from Hospice of St. Mary’s in 2010. Camryn wanted to raise money for Hospice of St. Mary’s as a way to say ‘Thank you’ for the support she and her family received. Camryn and her fellow classmates completed a walk around the campus of Hollywood Elementary School and then released balloons in honor of her Mom’s birthday (May 20). Camryn’s brother, Jarrett, a seventh grader at Leon-ardtown Middle School, also contributed to the donation by collecting loose change for several months. Jarrett and Camryn’s father, JC Leavy and grandmother, Barbara Payne were both present for the event.

Mechanicsville, MD

3

Bluegrass for Hospice

Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Bubby Knott’s Flat Iron Farm in Great Mills, MD

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a day filled with music as local groups play throughout the day, followed by the headlining band.

Upcoming Events2012 Wharf BashSeptember 29, 20125 to 9 p.m. at the Leonardtown WharfFeaturing Wiskers Band!

Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the gate

Food: Crabs, burgers, hot dogs and roasted pig provided!

Drink: Beer and wine available for purchase.

For more information, contact Laura Clarke at lclarke@lsassociates.net or Hayden Hammett at hayden.hammett@gmail.com

Headlining this Year - IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year “Michael Cleveland and Flame Keeper along with “The Roys” from Nashville, Tennessee

Another Very Successful

Spring Fling!On Sunday, April 29th, the Saint

Mary’s Rod & Classic Car Club held another in a long string of successful car shows to support Hospice of St. Mary’s (HOSM). Benefiting from a sunny day and very pleasant weather, the event attracted over 340 entrants and drew a significant number of spectators throughout the day from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. The HOSM volunteers of the “blue bucket brigade” gave the spectators the opportunity to make the suggested $2.00 donation, and collected nearly $3,000 in this short timeframe. Then on June 4th at the monthly meeting of the Car Club, a check for an additional $7,000 was presented. The total donation for 2012 of over $10,000 surpassed all previous gifts from the Car Club. See photograph on page 5.

From 2004 to date donations on behalf of Saint Mary’s Rod & Classic Car Club’s annual Spring Fling car show exceed $67,000. We are indeed fortunate to be the benefactors of

Food, auction items, 50/50 raffles

Sponsorship opportunities available!

the Club members’ tireless efforts, innovative thinking, and overall professional approach that can attract such a large and appreciative group of unique vehicles and intrigued visitors. The work on our behalf is a year-long project, commencing with planning and allocating responsibilities, arranging for materials and equipment, seeking sponsorships, making event day assignments, preparing final materials, and then preparing the Leonardtown Square and conducting the event. An all-hands evolution for the 38 member organization led by President Billy Higgs, and a lot of praying for good weather!! We are extremely grateful for the continued commitment by the

Club to give their all to ensure hospice

service is available to all within St.

Mary’s County, regardless of financial

status.

The HOSM volunteers are

another crucial factor on event day,

as with the “blue bucket” in hand,

they become the face of hospice to

all those in attendance. This year’s

cadre’ included: Debbie Pitts, Mike

Lamp, Terry Larus, Barbara McNary,

Jennifer Overstreet,

Jan Barnes, Anne-

Marie Merz, Adrienne

Gordon, Lyndsay

Fournier, Mary-

Margaret Smith,

Ken Homan, Jay

McCleaf, Jim

McCleaf, and

Vince Merz.

Your dedication is greatly

appreciated.

Thank you Saint Mary’s Rod &

Classic Car Club members, HOSM

volunteers, show participants and the

spectator folks that were in attendance.

You’re instrumental in permitting

HOSM to carry out its mission. All that

you contribute is greatly appreciated,

and you should be proud of your

service to our community.

4

Would you like to become a part of our

Volunteer Team at Hospice of St. Mary’s?

Call 301-994-3075 for more information or email mary_crowell@smhwecare.com

Meet Our Volunteers

Recent graduates from the May 9, 2012 Boot Camp Volunteer Training ClassFrom left: Andy Geisz, Karen Dillon, Alexis Schaefer, Monica Juran (Hospice RN), Lydia Wilkinson (Hospice Secretary), Laura Clarke and Jeff Errington.

Recent graduates from the May 19, 2012 Boot Camp Volunteer Training ClassFrom left: Paul Bielewicz, Ellen Bielewicz, Dave Densford, Tamika Jones-Johnson, Emily Goslener, Mary Young, Caroline Goyko Jen Narkevicius and Shawn Curtis (Hospice Aide)

NEWS from the VOLUNTEER OFFICEKaty Crowell, Volunteer Coordinator

17th Annual Run and Fun Walk for Hospice

April 14, 2012 was the date for the 17th Annual Run and Fun Walk for Hospice, and it was a beautiful day! We had a record number of participants for this event, and the many, many volunteers who came out to help make this the success that it is year after year. Our volunteers put together an awesome brunch, served and cleaned up, they manned the parking for the many, many folks that showed up, they helped with the same-day registrations. They were course marshalls along the route, they passed out water to the runners and walkers, and the list goes on and on. I won’t try to start listing all the names, because I know that I would never be able to capture everyone. Suffice it to say, that Hospice is very appreciative of all the hard work that goes into this event, which wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of Race Volunteer Event Coordinators Jamie Thomas, Jeff Thomas, Jim Dicus, Mike Dailey and Brian Buker. My heartfelt thanks to all that made this a wonderful day! Mark your calendars for the 18th Annual Run and Fun Walk for Hospice – April 13, 2013!

Boot Camp Volunteer Training

On May 9 and May 19, Boot Camp Volunteer Training classes were held at the Hospice Offices. We have many new volunteers who are very enthused to start giving their time to Hospice. There are so many different volunteer opportunities ranging from cooking for our patients at the Hospice House, companioning our patients, helping in the office and participating in our fund raising events. The next trainings will be in the fall. If you would like more information about volunteering at Hospice, I would love to hear from you. Give me at call at the Hospice Office at 301-994-3075.

5

Hospice Volunteer Deb Faller, and her husband, Gary, came out to volunteer at the Hospice Run. We couldn’t have done this event without the support of our wonderful volunteers!

The runners were lined up and ready to go for the 17th Annual Run and Fun Walk for Hospice.

Dr. Jennifer Schmidt, Hospice Medical Director, and her family, husband Dr. Tom Wilkinson and children, Emily and Patrick, came out to support the 17th Annual Run and Fun Walk for Hospice.

Volunteers from our local JC Penney Store came to the Hospice House prior to the Hospice Run and Fun Walk to stuff over 2,000 of the race packets!

The walkers got moving as soon as the runners took off. Beverly Bishop (pushing the stroller), Hospice Volunteer, is walking with her family.

Nancy Glockner, Hospice Board member, and Kathy Franzen, Hospice Director, were at the event to support and participate in the walk.

6

Many thanks

29th Annual TRICODA (Tri-County Dart Association) Banquet was held April 13, 2012 @ the Elks Lodge on Chancellors Run Road. League Officers Robbie Tejchman, President and Jimmy Dillow, Vice-President presented Hospice of St. Mary’s Director, Kathy Franzen, and Board Member, Cindy Beakes, with a check in the amount of $5,200.00. Thank you TRICODA for your generous donations over the years totaling over $20,000.

Mike Krier – donated a 40” hand crafted rocking horse made from pine to our children’s bereavement room. Mike has crafted several rocking pieces for Hospice of St. Mary’s. Each item requires approximately 25-30 hours to assemble and he signs each on the bottom (this one #294). Hospice of St. Mary’s took care of his mother in law in 2009 and Mike is truly a friend of

Hospice! Thanks Mike!

Gayla Erickson donated a basketball hoop and basketball to the bereavement department in memory of her husband Robert Thomas Erickson.

Thanks to the proceeds from the MedStar St. Mary’s

Hospital Nurses’ Week Basket Raffle – the patient rooms at

the Hospice House will be furnished with leather recliners.

We do have the best associates - $4,100 was collected! A

big thank you to Christine Wray for contributing the ‘extra

needed’ amount to ensure that all six rooms received a chair.

Thank you to NARFE Chapter 969 for their generous donation of $4,913.63!

Saint Mary’s Rod & Classic Car Club, pictured from left: John

Vanatta, Vice President, Billy Higgs, President, Vince Merz,

HOSM Board Ambassador, and Carol Morelli, Secretary (acting)

Read the Spring Fling Article on page 3!

7

Thank you to Mildred Jurovaty

A $5,000 memorial donation was made from Mildred Jurovaty’s trust.

Thank You to the Callaway Baptist Church

Trauma GroupOur new trauma group will begin on September 11th from 4 till 5:30 in the evening at the Hospice House. This group will be targeting those who have had a loss by death due to a traumatic event. This group will run for 8 weeks and is a closed group. Please call for more informa-tion or to secure a spot.

Good Grief Support GroupThis group will continue to meet every first and third Tuesday evening of each month from 6 until 7:30 at the MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Pavil-ion on the second floor.

�rough My Eyes Teen Support Grief Support GroupThis group meets for 8 consecutive weeks, and is designed for teens ages 13-18 that have lost a loved one through death. Photography, creative writing and education are used to help teens process their loss and learn positive coping skills from their peers. The group ends with an exhibit of the teens’ work for family and friends to view. Teens will also receive a keepsake booklet in memory of a loved one. Registration is required. The group will begin June 26th. Please call to secure a spot.

From the Bereavement CenterOnce again, the Callaway Baptist Church collected non-perishables to stock

the pantry at The Hospice House. Many thanks to all the wonderful folks who contributed to this effort.

Thank you to International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) so much for your generous contribution to this year’s Camp Sunrise!

IAM is one of the largest industrial unions in North America, representing nearly 700,000 active and retired members in more than 200 basic industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, transportation, shipbuilding and government services. You can find IAM members working almost anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. The IAM has its headquarters building in Upper Marlboro, MD and operates a large training facility, the William W. Winpisinger Education Center, in Hollywood, MD. The Winpisinger Center and its many employees are proud members of the St. Mary’s county community and are active in many county events and charities.

By Cindy Parlin, LCSW-C and USN Veteran

At any point in time in the U.S. , one in four dying people is a veteran.

That amounts to 1,800 people a day; 680,000 veterans a year. To honor the service of veterans and their special needs of veterans at end of life, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collabora-tion with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) initiated the We Honor Veterans Program in 2010.

In the fall of 2011, MedStar Hospice of St. Mary’s joined the pro-gram. We are initiating programs to increase community involvement for our veterans with hope to utilize the rich local resources we have through NAS Pax River, active duty military,

Best Wishes to our Hospice of St. Mary’s associates, Mary Ellen Hill and Dorothy Stewart in their future endeavors. We sincerly are thankful for their many years of loyal and dedicated service.

retired military and those with prior

military history as well as their fam-

ily members. MedStar Hospice of St.

Mary’s has veterans, spouses of veter-

ans, volunteers who are veterans and

spouses of veterans on its staff.

The program has four levels. At

present, we are considered a “recruit”

but are working on our Level 1 by

identifying veterans who are admitted

to our hospice services and educating

staff and volunteers about veterans

and end of life veteran specific needs.

We are expecting to open these edu-

cation sessions to the public and hope

that we will increase volunteer support

with the program!

We HonorVeterans Program

8

Hospice of St. Mary’s Wish List:baby video monitorsHospice of St. Mary’s Wish List:Hospice of St. Mary’s Wish List:baby video monitorsbaby video monitors

Hospice Wish List

to hospice with love

Non Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDLeonardtown, MD

20650Permit No. 119

P.O. Box 625Leonardtown, Maryland 20650301-994-3023 PHONE

301-994-3318 FAX

hospiceofstmarys.org

Hospice of St. Mary’s

Kathy Franzen and the Board of Directors of Hospice of St. Mary’s

S end a HUGE THANK YOU to all the businesses and individuals who supported the 5th Annual Kentucky Derby Event which benefitted

Hospice of St. Mary’s. On May 5th Sotterley Plantation was transformed into Churchill Downs, while guests enjoyed fine “Southern Style” drinks,

dining, dancing and viewing the Derby LIVE. This delightful and successful community effort will directly support the Hospice House.

T hank You To Our Sponsors: WIN:

Christine Wray and John Felicitas Old Line Bank

Wyle

PLACE: AMEWAS Inc.; Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home;

DCS Corporation; Tom and Katie Watts

S HOW: A M Pierce; Askey and Askey; Baldwin & Briscoe; Cherry Cove Land Development;

Community Bank of Tri-County; CSC; Dugan, McKissick & Longmore; Heron Systems; Todd & Maria Morgan; Murray, Wamsley & Schrader; NDTI;

Resource Management Concepts; Sabre Systems; Taylor Gas; Rick & Paula Tepel; Three Notch Veterinary Hospital; Jan Barnes/Century 21 New Millennium; IAP World Services

. ..And those who made significant donations of time and services.

P aula Slavings/Best Buy; Chesapeake Swing Band; Guy Distributing; Wentworth Nursery; Blairs Jewelry and Gifts; Charlie Bennett;

Kathy York/Scarborough Farms; Frank Marquart/Photography; Expressions Catering; Baileys Party Rental; Blue Wind/Robert Plant

1840

146

In an effort to GO GREEN, we will be placing a list of memorial donations on our website each quarter.

To see a list please visit us at www.hospiceofstmarys.org. and

even click on the Ways To Give!

Thank you for your support!

Baby Monitors

Bissell Little Green Machine carpet cleaner