Seacoast Hospice In the News

---

On Thursday, May 01, 2008, Donald Schumacher, President of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) was in New Hampshire to address the staff and Board of Directors of Seacoast Hospice, and to tour Seacoast Hospice's Hyder Family Hospice House. Dr. Schumacher, an internationally known figure in the field of hospice, spoke to staff about the role of the community hospice in end-of-life care. He also addressed issues concerning proposed Medicare cuts by Congress and the devastating effect these cuts will have on the delivery of hospice services. All hospices will be affected by these cuts.

For Seacoast Hospice, this constitutes a 2% reduction in funding available for delivery of services to patients in New Hampshire and a 3% reduction for Maine patients in just the first year of implementation. Seacoast Hospice and other Strafford and Rockingham county hospice providers have already endured similar "adjustments" when the Metropolitan Statistical Areas restructure removed the two counties from the greater Boston wage index. "It has been very difficult. The reality is that Seacoast Hospice competes with Boston area medical providers for skilled nurses without the dollars to pay the market rates. Recently we have lost a number of excellent nurses due to the offers that are being made by larger institutions." said Susan Cole, CEO of Seacoast Hospice.

A globally recognized authority on hospice and palliative care, Dr. Schumacher has been active throughout his career as a member and officer of various industry organizations. He has also served as an expert, strategic planning consultant to individual hospice and palliative care programs and state associations throughout the U.S. An active public speaker, Dr. Schumacher has presented domestically and internationally on topics such as strategic planning for hospices, palliative care policy development, and clinical guidelines.

---

A year of helping: Hyder Hospice marks event with plaque dedication
March 28, 2008

Seacoast Hospice Collaborates with Portsmouth Poet Laureate

OCS announces 2007 Vision Award Winners
The Best of the Best in Home Care and Hospice
August 13, 2007

'It is not giving up'
Family speaks on the care, guidance hospice provided when Peggy Boulet needed help
July 5, 2007

'Bridges' program takes kids on cruise
July 5, 2007

Dr. Peter Dicks named Exeter hospice medical director
April 22, 2007

Hyder Family Hospice House set to open
March 2, 2007

Hospice plays leading role in education programming
May 26, 2006

Hospice house groundbreaking held
May 26, 2006

Dover Hospice House offers a new take on the end of life
April 5, 2006

Seacoast Hospice to break ground on new home in April
April 2, 2006

Brothers give local hospice $1 million
November 25, 2005