Recent News
Farewell to Inger McManus
A couple of years ago, Inger McManus, Hospice of San Angelo's Director of Building Bridges, told me that she planned to retire in April of 2011. I took the news with not too much concern since it was so far away... at the time. Now, it's here, and my feelings are not exactly the same as they were. Inger came to Hospice of San Angelo in 1991, a somewhat reluctant recruit from her happy life as a teacher at St. Luke's Kindergarten. At that time, Hospice of San Angelo had no program specifically for grieving children, but recognized the need. In typical hospice fashion, we went about seeking such a program that we could emulate, and found, much to our surprise, that there was none to be found. To answer that situation, Hospice of San Angelo engaged Inger and Judi Robinson, a local counselor, to write a program for the children that would address their unique needs. The end result, Building Bridges, started providing its powerful but gentle assistance to children of school age. Since that first group of children was entrusted to our care, almost 2000 children have been the recipients of this one of a kind benefit. Each session has come to life under Inger's watchful eye.
It has become evident that the Building Bridges program is successful. The program has been instituted in hospices all over the United States. Children are receiving help with their broken hearts by the thousands, thanks to the work of Inger McManus, and those children are growing into adulthood with the tools needed to deal with their grief. I am convinced that this program has positively affected the lives of the children who have been fortunate enough attend its sessions.
Inger's dedication to Building Bridges has been tenacious; her love for the children has been unquestioned, and her ability to capture and mend their little broken hearts has been unparalleled. So... how does one say good-bye to someone like Inger? How do we deal with the idea of her not being a part of our hospice life? How indeed! Some of the sting is relieved in the knowledge that she and Joe Lee will be spending their time between here and Colorado in the company of "the most perfect grandchildren in the world." (This, I have found, is a common phrase for grandparents, and one not to be questioned.) But, the most comforting aspect of this kind of good-bye is the fact that the Building Bridges program will continue, strong and hearty, just as Inger has designed it to be. So, good-bye, Inger. Your absence will be sorely felt. Know that your imprint on all these little ones will continue forever, and that our affection for you will not diminish.-David McBride, Executive Director
Hospice of San Angelo welcomes new Building Bridges Coordinator, Melissa Vines
Melissa attended Angelo State University, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology. Melissa went through the Building Bridges program as a teenager and has volunteered with the program prior to being chosen as the successor to Inger McManus. Inger recently stated, "Melissa knows about grief, she's been there. She knows about Building Bridges-she's been there too. And she knows that even when there are huge losses, life is worth living. Her commitment to keep Building Bridges going is a relief and a blessing to me. It is an affirmation that God's hand is still at work, and I'm grateful!" David McBride, Executive Director says "We are all very happy to have Melissa Vines as the new director of Building Bridges. Melissa knows, better than most, the value of this program, having been a recipient of its love and compassion fifteen years ago. Hospice of San Angelo welcomes Melissa to our family."
Suddenlink Tony Gibson Memorial Bass Tournament Benefits Hospice of San Angelo
The Suddenlink Open Bass Tournament, in partnership with the San Angelo Bass Club, has again donated the tournament proceeds to Hospice of San Angelo in memory of Tony Gibson. The tournament, now in its third year, was renamed in 2010 in honor of Tony. In 2010 this tournament netted 11, 000 dollars for Hospice of San Angelo. This year that amount increased significantly to $19,000. David McBride, Executive Director, says, "We are very grateful to Suddenlink and those who sponsor this event. The money raised will help assure that no one is ever denied the unique care offered by Hospice of San Angelo. We salute the family of Tony Gibson, all the participants and sponsors of the tournament, and the entire staff of Suddenlink for their dedication to those we serve."
President of the Texas Non-Profit Hospice Alliance
Congratulations to our fearless leader, David McBride who was recently elected president of Texas Non-Profit Hospice Alliance, an organization of independently owned hospices dedicated to providing quality end-of-life hospice care. As noted on tnpha.org, each member hospice is independently owned and operated. However, all are "united in the belief that the non-profit hospice model best reflects the caring culture that exists in our Texas communities-where neighbors join together to focus their energies on comprehensive and compassionate care for their patients and their families". . The mission of Texas Non-Profit Hospice Alliance is to enhance the availability of non-profit hospice care throughout Texas. Celene Loosier, Director of Clinical Services says, "Under David's leadership this mission is sure to be kept in focus. He is passionate about the availability of the best hospice care to all who are eligible. We could not have a better leader of our organization and now TNPHA can say the same."
David McBride, Executive Director appointed by the CHAP Board of Directors to a three year term on CHAP's Board of Review
For the third time Hospice of San Angelo has been recognized for its quality home and community based care by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). As noted in a press release by CHAP, David McBride, Executive Director, MS has been appointed by the CHAP Board of Directors to a three year term on CHAP's Board of Review (BOR). BOR members are selected from organizations who have achieved CHAP accreditation with no or minimal deficiencies over at least 2 accreditation cycles.
Responsibilities of the BOR include reviewing accreditation related reports, analyzing data for relevance to CHAP Standards and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Standards and Conditions for home health, hospice and durable medical equipment, and making objective accreditation decisions. In addition, the BOR makes recommendations to the CHAP Board of Directors and/or the CHAP Administration regarding accreditation policies, procedures, and practices, including updates to the Standards of Excellence. Members of the BOR adhere to a strict code of ethics and update their pledge of avoiding conflicts of interest and confidentiality statements annually.
Since 1965, first as a subsidiary of the National League for Nursing and the American Public Health Association, and now as an independent non-profit, CHAP has been committed to community based health care. The CHAP gold seal of approval assures patients and their families, physicians, insurance companies and health care professionals that accredited programs have gone beyond minimum quality levels and have met the industry's highest nationally recognized standards of excellence. Due to this recognition of quality service, the federal government recognizes CHAP accredited organizations as meeting Federal standards of quality and performance and therefore certified to provide care to Medicare patients.
Congratulations to David McBride, Executive Director, MS and Hospice of San Angelo and the communities' fortunate enough to receive its superior services.
Hospice of San Angelo celebrates 25 years of service
In July of 1985, after months of preparation, planning, and prayer, the long-sighted women of the Junior League of San Angelo launched a daring project... one that would change the lives of thousands of people in the Concho Valley. That project was Hospice of San Angelo. Even with their uncommon ability to project, I am all but certain that they would not have been able to predict the magnitude of positive effect that their actions would bring.
In the early days of Hospice of San Angelo, there was always a coffee cup full of quarters on the front desk. Staff members were instructed to grab a hand-full on their way out the door for use in pay phones throughout the city. Computers were yet to come, but we had the latest in IBM Selectric typewriters... one of which had an automatic correction key! Our office (note that I did not say "offices") was tucked away in the back of a building that no longer exists. Medications were often paid for on the sly by nurses, and most of the staff were volunteers. Since Hospice of San Angelo's official service area consisted only of a fifteen mile radius of San Angelo, staff members often fudged on that distance to assure that patients well outside that radius were able to receive care. How far out someone lived was the original "don't ask, don't tell."
So much has changed. Staff members now carry computers no larger than notebooks to make record of their patients' conditions, and that information is then synchronized to the server in the office so that all staff are able to observe the same information at the same time. Cellular telephones are commonplace, and most communication is done by text message. Our service area has expanded to an area larger than Delaware and Maryland combined... some twelve counties. Our durable medical equipment, our offices in the Historic Hotel Cactus, and our one-of-a kind bereavement center, the Landy House, are all owned by the organization thanks to the astounding generosity of the Concho Valley.
Yes, the outward things have changed. But the important things have not. When Hospice of San Angelo admitted patient number one in the summer of 1985, we promised him three things: We will control your pain; we will put you in charge of your treatment; and we will walk with you on this journey. Those three promises have been made to each patient and family throughout the ensuing twenty five years... some 7,000 times, actually. Those three promises have served to bring us back to the heart of hospice, and to the sweet, simple perfection that turns out to be peace and love, offered again and again.
It is impossible to predict what changes will come. To even imagine is difficult. My fervent hope, however, is that the three promises will always be made and kept, because they, in their sweet simplicity, are the ground of this organization. One other thing that I hope never changes is the support we receive from this wonderful community and the families we have served. This gratitude is based in the experience that no matter how much love is poured out from this organization, we receive that love back...packed down and overflowing, a hundred fold. We salute you, Concho Valley, for your constant support of our mission, and all of us look forward to many more years of service.-David McBride