The National Hospice – Veteran Partnership Program
Fact Sheet
What are Hospice-Veteran Partnerships? Hospice-Veteran Partnerships (HVP) are coalitions of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, community hospices, and others working together to ensure that excellent care at the end of life is available for our nation’s veterans and support is available for their families. These coalitions can be community-based or statewide and may function independently or within an existing structure. HVP is a national program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospice and Palliative Care Initiative.
Why form HVPs?The mission of HVP is to establish an enduring network of hospice and VA professionals, veterans, volunteers, and other interested organizations working together to provide quality services through the end of life for veterans. The purpose of HVP is to provide leadership, technical assistance, and program development recommendations aimed at:
1. Improving veterans' access to hospice and palliative care across all sites and levels of care to assure that every veteran is able to receive hospice care at the time and place of need;
Strengthening the relationships between community hospice and VA facilities; and
3. Initiating comprehensive end-of-life community engagement plans designed to reach veterans.
Who should be a member of HVP? Suggested members of HVP include:
State Hospice Organizations; community hospices; VA facilities; State Veterans Homes; Veterans Service Organizations; veterans; military hospitals; established end-of-life coalitions in the state, and other national and community organizations interested in improving care through the end of life for veterans
What kinds of things can HVP do? There are many activities that can help HVP realize its mission. Some of these may include:
1. Conduct an assessment to determine what the needs of veterans are in your community.
2. Hold a statewide educational event to provide information on hospice and the VA healthcare system to hospices and VA facilities.
Conduct community outreach educational programs for veterans’ groups about advance care planning, available resources, and care options.
4. Educate community agencies about veterans’ issues and benefits.
What help is available for HVPs?
To get more information about starting or joining an HVP and to request technical assistance call:
· your State Hospice Organization
· Diane Jones, HVP Project Administrator at (856) 220-5016 or Diane.Jones@va.gov
· Pat Kelley, HVP lead, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization at (703) 647-6693) or pkelley@nhpco.org
· Chris Cody, National Manager, VA Hospice and Palliative Care Program at (202) 273-8537 or Christine.Cody@va.gov.
To locate the state hospice organization in your area, call the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization at (800) 658-8898.
For HVP and VA web resources, go to:
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Veterans’ Page: www.nhpco.org/veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs: www.va.gov
VA Hospice and Palliative Care Program www.va.gov/GeriaticsSHG
HVP Toolkit: www.ethosconsult.com/toolkit
Veteran Demographics: www.va.gov/vetdata/demographics/VP2001adjcntdth.htm
Veteran Health Benefits: www.va.gov/health_benefits
VA Nationwide Palliative Care Network: www.hospice.va.gov
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