Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The community is invited to an Open House for the Monticello field office of Big Bend Hospice. The much-anticipated event takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the newly built facility, located at 615 N. Jefferson St. A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for 3:15 p.m. with time afterwards for tours, recognitions and light refreshments.
“We are looking forward to celebrating all of the hard work that the Advisory Council has done and their perseverance in getting us to this point – and to celebrating with the community the resource that this building is going to provide for Jefferson County,” says Michael Eurich, Senior Director of Strategy, Policy & Innovation for BBH.
He emphasizes the community-based nature of the nine-year journey that led to the establishment of this field office for BBH. The project was spearheaded by the local BBH Advisory Council, funded entirely by Jefferson County donors, designed to blend in aesthetically with the Monticello Historic District and built using local contractors.
“This truly is a community project,” says Juanice Hughes, a member of the local Advisory Council. “Our donors are local donors, and not only do we have those major donors who always make things happen, but we have grassroots in this community. They are there for the Tree of Remembrance every year; they are there for the fundraisers we have; they support hospice. So many of the families have had hospice as part of the journeys for their families.”
“It's been a long time coming,” adds Helen Braswell, also member of the Advisory Council. “I'm very excited that we're finally in, and hopefully we can improve some services.”
Big Bend Hospice wants the community to understand that the Monticello field office is not a clinic, and it is not for administration. Rather, it is dedicated to supporting the interdisciplinary crew who provide in-home patient care out in the community. This group includes a social worker, a chaplain, a nurse, a certified nurse assistant, a music therapist and bereavement counselors, whose work is guided and coordinated by the overseeing staff doctor.
“So many times we don't recognize our nurses, our clinicians, our music therapists, our ministers, who spend so much time not only with our patients but with their families,” says Hughes. “The Open House is a time that we can have them all together at the field office, and let the community see who is the heart of Big Bend Hospice, and to me it's that group that is hands on with holding the hand of the patients through their journeys.”
In addition to its primary function of facilitating the work of the interdisciplinary BBH team, the new building in Monticello – with its meeting room and spacious wrap-around porches – can be used to host BBH community activities and events. The front lobby also is a welcoming space where residents can easily drop by to pick up information about BBH services.
“This is going to be a very instrumental office,” comments Eurich, “especially as Big Bend Hospice continues to grow in its service delivery in this region.”
The Open House will give the community the opportunity to tour the field office, thank those who made it possible and celebrate with BBH staff, leadership and volunteers; community leaders; donors; and families whom their hospice care has touched.
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