Franklin Hospice Earns their Stars - NHPCO's We Honor Veterans Level 5!

Carilion Franklin Hospice has achieved their goal of earning Level 5 in the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's We Honor Veterans Program!

This honor is a cumulative year-plus-long team effort that included specialized training in how best to meet the needs of Veteran patients and caregivers. Suicide prevention, moral injury in Vietnam Veterans, and PTSD in combat and Vietnam-era Veteran patients are particular areas of focus. 

In addition to staff education, outreach activities in the community are designed to connect local Veterans with resources available to them including hospice and VA services. Social activities, Veteran-to-Veteran networking, and opportunities to thank Veterans for their service, are ongoing. Pinning ceremonies performed by a Veteran volunteer are a touching gesture that show our appreciation and acknowledgement of the sacrifices made by our Veteran patients and their families.

Moving forward, Carilion Franklin Hospice will serve as a mentor to other hospice agencies who are seeking to obtain this designation and strengthen their capacity in providing excellent Veteran-centric care.

As each hospice team member continues to work out the hospice mission of providing those entrusted to us - both Veteran and civilian - quality and compassionate care as they walk their final journey, they are now even better equipped to meet the unique needs of this particular community.