Hospice News

West Orange Hospice Professionals Honored
with Awards

Spiro Ballas		Patricia Pipher

West Orange, NJ -- Spiro Ballas, Senior Volunteer Coordinator and Patricia Pipher, LPN, CHPLN, Assistant Director of Performance Improvement, both with the Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center (BHHPCC), an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, were named Hospice Team Award winners by the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NJHPCO). Each year the NJHPCO presents Hospice Team Awards to recognize outstanding hospice professionals as role models for their counterparts statewide.

Mr. Ballas was named Volunteer Coordinator of the Year and Ms Pipher, Hospice LPN of the Year.

The Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center is proud to have two professionals honored with Hospice Team Awards this year and to be the nominee of three organizations named Spirit of Hospice award winners by the NJHPCO. “Spiro, Patricia and the winning organizations all convey the mission of excellence that our hospice strives to provide to patients and families every day,” said Lorraine Sciara, FACHE, Executive Director of the BHHPCC.  

In nominating Mr. Ballas, a nine-year hospice employee, Patti Murray, Vice President of Human Resources and Volunteer Services for BHHPCC, noted his ability to balance the needs of the team, families, patients and volunteers.  “Spiro puts compassion into action every day,” describes Ms. Murray when citing the multiple grass roots projects he has lead on behalf of the BHHPCC.  His employees and volunteers refer to him as a colleague and a friend – one even called him a superhero. 

Described as a “team player” by nominee Phyllis Curtis, CHPN, Director of Performance Improvement for the BHHPCC, Ms. Pipher has worked for the Saint Barnabas Health Care System for 11 years, the last six being spent with hospice.  “She is very flexible and responds without hesitation to last minute requests from clinical managers,” adds Ms. Curtis.  Another nominee citied Ms. Pipher’s compassion, describing several situations in which her personal commitment to excellence proved essential to soothing a grieving family.

With its 27-year history, BHHPCC is the leading care provider for patients in New Jersey who are facing advanced illness and is licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, The Joint Commission accredited, Medicare and Medicaid certified organization, and is an active member of several national and state health care organizations.

Founded in 1979, the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization educates professionals and consumers about hospice and palliative care.  Its membership includes over 90 percent of the state’s licensed hospices, which together serve over 20,000 patients with end-stage illness and their families each year.

The Hospice Team and Spirit of Hospice Awards were presented on Thursday evening, November 12th at the Sheraton Hotel in Eatontown, NJ during the NJHPCO’s 30th anniversary celebration.

For more information about the Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center, please call (973) 322-4800

Date: December 23, 2009

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