NewsLine - March 2012 - (Page 3)

IN TRIBUTE TO MARY T he hospice and palliative care community is mourning the loss of one of the icons in our community, Mary Labyak. Mary died peacefully at her home in Florida on February 4, under the care of her team at Suncoast Hospice, the program she helped build and where she served as president and CEO. Mary was chair of the National Hospice Foundation, served on the NHPCO board of directors (was a past chair of NHO), was co-chair of the Capital Campaign for the National Center for Care at the End of Life, and an active NHPCO member at the time of her death. She was the recipient of awards and honors too numerous to list here. Mary was also a friend and a mentor, to me and to numerous others throughout the field. Through her dedication and enduring leadership, Mary’s work has touched the lives of the people who knew her, those who did not, and many who will never have the pleasure of knowing her. This very special woman made significant accomplishments within her program, her community, in the state, and nationally. She was involved in the creation of the Medicare Hospice Benefit, and the program she led was one of the original HCFA demonstration sites. Her work with NHPCO, the National Hospice Foundation (NHF), FHSSA and HAN goes back to these organizations’ earliest days. One of the most valuable gifts that she gave to us was her unwavering commitment to patients and families. Throughout her work she always emphasized the importance of putting the patient and family at the center of care. They are—and will continue to be—the most important part of the work we share and her commitment was an inspiration to us all. NHPCO and NHF issued a statement following her death that is available on our websites. We also put together a very special video of remarks Mary made when she was awarded the NHF Healthcare Architect Award in 2011. I encourage you to watch this video tribute and reflect on Mary’s words of wisdom. Additionally, Mary contributed an article to NewsLine that was originally published in 2001. As one of the most frequently requested articles from members, it was reprinted last year. We have chosen to share it with you again in this issue [page 16] as a tribute to Mary’s enduring legacy of leadership. J. Donald Schumacher President/CEO NewsLine 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq_FVXwfGMs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq_FVXwfGMs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq_FVXwfGMs

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NewsLine - March 2012

NHPCO Facts and Figures
In Tribute to Mary Labyak
Fall Prevention and Assessment
The Voice of NCHPP
The Experience Model
Get Involved in My.NHPCO
NHF 2012 Gala (display ad)
Hope PACE
Free Community Assessment Tool
Watch the New FHSSA Video on Partnering
NHDD is April 16: Let’s Keep Up the Pace
MSN Change: Over a Year of Advocacy Pays Off
New Volunteer Outreach Materials Online
Our New Hospice T-Shirts are Here
Volunteer Gift Items from Marketplace (display ad)
Member News and Notes
Regulatory Tip of the Month
Educational Offerings
Resource Links to Bookmark
Videos Worth Watching

NewsLine - March 2012