Hospice of Montezuma announced last week it has received a Hospice CAHPS Honors Award.
The center received the award on Tuesday from HealthCarefirst, a provider of Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems.
HealthCarefirst provides bereavement survey programs for home health and hospice agencies, according to information provided by Hospice of Montezuma.
Hospice of Montezuma serves about 130 patients every year. However, Heidi Kuenzler, director of public relations and marketing and director of outreach and fundraising at Hospice of Montezuma, told The Journal that the center also serves the families of the bereaved and anyone else in the community “that has suffered a loss.”
The center values going above and beyond for those they serve, pursuing the furthering of their staff’s education and continuing to grow the services and programs they currently offer.
“We do not limit patient visits and allocate all we have available back into the community,” Kuenzler said. “It is an honor. We provide comfort and compassion care to all that need our service. Receiving this award validates that we are providing a service that is not only needed in our community, but that we are providing that service at an exceptional level. It is a direct reflection of our outstanding team.”
Hospice of Montezuma, 512 North Broadway, employs a medical director, registered nurses, certified nurse aides, bereavement support staff, clergy, family support staff, massage and music therapy, as well as support groups.
This award, which is determined after an annual review, “recognizes agencies that continuously go above and beyond in providing high-quality care for patients and compassionate caregiver experiences.”
To be considered, the hospice center must score above the HealthCarefirst National Performance score on the Hospice CAHPS Willingness to Recommend question. If the score meets the standard, the center’s performance is evaluated using 23 “quality indicator measures.”
The scores on the measures are then compared to a national performance score, which is calculated from all hospices that are housed in HealthCarefirst’s Hospice CAHPS database.
Carol Baumgartner of Hospice of Montezuma said the community’s support and the team at Hospice of Montezuma have helped make the award possible.
“This award is a direct reflection of our knowledgeable and compassionate team, support from those in the community, volunteers, a skilled board of directors and all of the services our agency provides,” she said. “We look forward to maintaining a level of excellence to earn the HealthCarefirst’s honors in 2025.”
Kuenzler said that serving in hospice care is more than a job for those who work at Hospice of Montezuma.
“It is our team’s calling and passion to care for hospice patients and their families,” Kuenzler said.
