News Releases

September, 2003
West Georgia Hospice receives national education award

The National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals (NHPCO) recently honored West Georgia Hospice/Hospice LaGrange with an Award of Excellence in Education for its program, “Care Giving at the End of Life.” Created by West Georgia Hospice bereavement coordinator Tom Steele, the program was offered to LaGrange College students last January.

The course gave 10 students a hands-on experience with dying people and their families and trained the students as hospice volunteers. They kept daily journals about their contact with patients, which they later summarized for a final paper. Many of them reported that they had acquired a better understanding of how to accept death as a part of life and to value time with family and friends.

“It is an honor for me and our hospice program to be recognized by NHPCO from among other hospices across the country for our efforts at educating the community about care at the end of life,” says Steele. “The January interim program at LaGrange College provided a unique opportunity to involve college students with issues related to palliative care, death, and dying.”

NCHPCO, the professional membership division of the Hospice and Palliative Care, created the Awards of Excellence in Education to recognize hospice and palliative care programs that have a successful history of innovation and creativity in the design of educational programs. From programs that train volunteers to programs that address a specific community need., these annual awards highlight programs that demonstrate outstanding achievement and excellence in the design, promotion, and offering of hospice educational programs. 

“One of the most important things we can do as individuals in this field is to recognize those who provide excellent care and pass this knowledge along to others,” remarked NHPCO president/CEO Don Schumacher. “By taking the time to focus on programs and individuals who are leading the way in end-of-life care delivery, we advance the work being done by all hospice and palliative care professionals and ultimately increase the standard of care and access for all those in need.”

Recipients are nominated by local hospice organizations and are reviewed by their peers. This is the highest recognition for hospice educational programs awarded by hospice professionals. The award winners are nominated from across the country and represent a wealth of end-of-life care providers, professionals and researchers.