National Hospice Foundation to Present Global Vision Award to the Veterans Health Administration

Award Recognizes Efforts to Improve Care for Dying Veterans

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of their groundbreaking efforts to ensure that Veterans have access to high-quality hospice and palliative care, the Veterans Health Administration will receive the Global Vision Award from the National Hospice Foundation. The award will be presented on April 8, 2011 at the NHF gala.

Dr. Robert A. Petzel, Under Secretary for Health within the Department of Veterans Affairs, will accept the award on behalf of the Veterans Health Administration.

"We are proud to honor the Veterans Health Administration for the powerful role it has played in working with the hospice community to ensure that Veterans and their families have the most appropriate care at the end of life," said J. Donald Schumacher, NHF president and CEO.

NHF affiliate, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, launched We Honor Veterans in September 2010. This pioneering campaign is aimed at improving the care Veterans receive from providers by providing tools and resources to help  providers understand the end-of-life needs of Veterans.

"We Honor Veterans takes many important lessons learned  and teaches care providers the importance of respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment," said Schumacher.  "Having the skills necessary to comfort patients who have a history of military service and, in some cases, physical or psychological trauma is a passion shared by the VA and hospice."

Every day in the U.S., 1,800 Veterans will die. That's more than 680,000 Veterans every year – or 25 percent of all the people who die in this country annually. More than 8 million Veterans are enrolled in VA's health care system.

The Global Vision Award recognizes the efforts of an individual or organization whose dedication and innovation to program development and delivery profoundly affects the care and well-being of people around the world. Awardees demonstrate an extraordinary vision for caring that has a far-reaching impact and creates a lasting change in communities.

The award will be presented on April 8, 2011 during the evening's program of NHF's seventh annual gala. For more information about the gala, visit www.nationalhospicefoundation.org/Gala2011.

For information, contact:
Susan Messina
Director, Communications and Special Projects
571-275-4324

SOURCE National Hospice Foundation