Hospice Foundation of Martin and St. Lucie Inc.

Treasure Coast Hospice cares for well over 8,000 adults and children each year through the Hospice Care and the Grief Support Services programs for adults, children, healthcare organizations, schools and businesses in our service area regardless of their ability to pay. Our clinical teams work to provide quality hospice services that bring comfort and improve quality of life for over 460 patients daily wherever they call home. It is crucial that we are able to communicate effectively and respectfully to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Our organization is striving to educate every healthcare professional, patient and residents in the communities we serve so no one misses out on the quality services Treasure Coast Hospice provides. Our staff is working to translate key collateral and documents into multiple languages, identify bilingual staff to increase communication with the community at large and step up our diversity and inclusion training organization wide. Treasure Coast Hospice trains staff annually however, we felt that more was needed.

Our Diversity and Inclusion Council is now working closely with staff and other community organizations to ensure we are do everything possible for everyone in our community to feel welcome on our campuses, free to call with questions and encouraged to reach out for services early.

The Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation provides further assistance to patients and caregivers that need financial help with utility bills, mortgage payments, traveling expenses so families can be together and so much more. The funding we received from the community helps us to keep the Community Programming like Grief Support, Little Treasures Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care, three Inpatient Units (IPUs), Treasured Pets, Music, Massage and Aromatherapy available to all. We are serious about improving the comfort and quality of life for patients, clients and those that love them.

We work to bring awareness and education to our community through newsletters, social media, community events, speaker's bureau and various other platforms so individuals will know what services are available to them. Our Marketing Department is working to translate our various collateral to several languages so everyone is educated about our services.

Our work to translate our materials, continue to develop a Speakers Bureau, Community Programming like our robust Grief Support Program, Music and Massage Therapy, Pet Care Programs, IPUs takes funding. The Foundation works to raise the annual need for these programs through individual donations and grants and to provide sustainable income in the way of endowments so no one ever has to go without quality hospice care or the resources to heal from grief.

Development of new therapies and services for patients that help alleviate negative symptoms like pain, depression and feelings of isolation. Examples of recent initiatives include: music therapy, massage therapy, aromatherapy and virtual realty.

Improvements and renovations to inpatient units to provide the best possible care for patients and their families at the end of life. Including keeping families together during recent COVID pandemic.

Continually developing programs like Hospet, that provides patients with animal companionship and visits. Provide special services like the Treasured Pets Program, providing veterinary and grooming visits, dog walking, animal care and supplies so hospice patients are able to stay with their pets as long as possible.

Education and development for clinical and administrative staff.
~Annual education and development for clinical teams.
~Acquire special certifications and accreditations like Level 5 We Honor Veterans and the Nation Jewish Hospice
Accreditation.
~Translation of key collateral and documentation for non-English speaking communities. Identifying staff who
have bilingual skills. Educating our staff on the needs and beliefs of various cultures, religions and beliefs so our
patients receive appropriate and quality care.

Community Outreach and Education
~Quarterly educational newsletters mailed to over 40K-50K local residents
~Robust Marketing Department working to communicate through social media, print, email blasts and partner with other local community organizations.
~Professional Relations Team working with local healthcare agencies
~Community Relations Representative actively reaching out to local communities and businesses
~Email Blasts to increase community awareness and education about hospice and grief support
~Foundation - Foundation Fridays Social media to increase education and awareness and develop a culture of generosity
~Events throughout year that engage the community
~Individual meetings and relationship building
~Speakers Bureau available to groups and communities
~Tree of Life Ceremonies open to everyone in Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties
~Partnering with other NPOs in our local community
~Health fairs
~Engaging in Community networking events

The Foundation works with the community year-round to raise $3M-$4M to support the extra services provided by the Treasure Coast Hospice staff like Charity Care, Grief Support Services, Crisis Response Teams for schools and community organizations and so much more.

Because of the generosity of our community our teams are able to provide innovative care and services giving our patients and their loved ones the best possible end-of-life experience.

Community Outreach and Education is crucial to raise the funds needed for patient care and grief support services and to ensure that the adults and children in our community are aware of what services are available to them. Earlier hospice admission allows both patient and family to receive the full benefit of hospice services. Additionally, when pain and other symptoms are effectively controlled, people not only feel better, they have the potential to live a better and more meaningful life.

The Foundation staff publishes a popular newsletter, The Impact, on a quarterly basis to 50K local residents, helping to educate our local community about available services and programs available for members of our community.

Our Community Relations team focuses on individuals, communities and businesses. And connects with several thousand individuals, businesses and community groups each year.

The Foundation also works closely with the Marketing Department to craft social media posts and email blasts that help engage and educate those living in Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties.

Our Speakers Bureau works with our Community Ambassadors and is comprised of staff, board members and volunteers that believe in our mission and care deeply about the community. We continue to provide training and work to find opportunities in the community to speak.

Our Grief Support team of licensed professionals are always working hard providing care for the community through individual and group counseling sessions, training for other agencies and crisis response to help others deal with unexpected loss.

Professional Relations staff works to build partnerships with the healthcare community.

Our executives are always willing to meet with other leaders in the community as well as individuals to share what our services provide and how early intervention is best for the patients and families alike.

Our census has grown over 9% over last year but we continue to keep families together despite COVID though care in our inpatient units and of course, serving our patients wherever they call home.

Virtual Realty is now being provided to our patients, helping to alleviate feelings of isolation, depression and pain.

Our music therapy program continues to grow, providing 213% more patients with visits in the last fiscal year.

Treasure Coast Hospice is proud to be a certified Level Five We Honor Veterans Partner with Veterans Affairs and other veterans organizations. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to providing quality care and services to veterans and their families in our communities.

Treasure Coast Hospice continues to be accredited by the Nation Jewish Hospice Association helping to educate our staff throughout the year about the best and most appropriate care to our Jewish community.

Marketing continues to translate educational materials to Creole and Spanish so all communities have a chance to understand and take advantage of our services.

The Foundation's Impact newsletter mails to over 50K households and businesses located in Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties filled with educational materials and news about what is happening at Treasure Coast Hospice.

The Foundation is also working to import additional religious organizations and other community groups to their database and is beginning to actively connect with various groups throughout the tri-county area.

Email blasts are being sent out regularly with updates about our services, resources available to those who need assistance and the impact of philanthropic giving.

Our Professional Relations team is out around town each day visiting local healthcare facilities to share what we do with professionals who care for individuals that would benefit from our services.

Treasure Coast Hospice opened its first official office in Okeechobee County.

We have joined with Avow, Haven, St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care to form the Synthase Collaborative the partnership will enable the mission-driven hospice and palliative care providers to enhance access to quality post-acute care and services throughout communities in Florida. It will also strengthen our position to negotiate with insurers as new value-based payment models emerge.

Treasure Coast Hospice also partners with many other charities like the Alzheimer's Association, Cleveland Clinic, Council on the Aging, Breast Cancer Awareness, Warriors for Multiple Sclerosis and so many more! We all support each others efforts and help to educate the community together.