2006 / 2007 Annual Report - Victoria Hospice

Report to the Community 2006/ 07“We Share a Magnificent VisionWhen I was approached in 2001 to join theboard of directors at Victoria Hospice, I hadjust retired from a hectic career and wasthinking about where to donate my newlyacquired and long anticipated free time.I wanted to volunteer where I would meetinteresting people, open myself up to newlearnings, be able use my skills and – mostimportantly – contribute to making apositive difference in the lives of others.As I now approach the end of my term as aboard member and reflect on the experienceof the last six years, I am so glad I said yesto this opportunity. Being involved withVictoria Hospice has meant working with ateam of dedicated professionals, committedvolunteers and generous donors whoshare a magnificent vision – the vision ofquality end-of-life care for everyone inour community.Whether spending time with staff andvolunteers, attending community or donorrecognition events, joining in the fun at ourannual Swimathon or grappling with decisionsat the Board table, I have always been struckby the power of this shared vision to inspireeveryone involved with Victoria Hospice.Public policy on palliative care continues toevolve, shifting demographics impact servicedemands and medical research shapes andinforms practice. For more than a quartercentury, Victoria Hospice has adapted to thisever-changing environment, turning challengesinto opportunities, working effectively withour care partners, being accountable to ourdonors and funders, embracing change andgrowth – in short, striving to be the best wecan be to assist individuals and families whenand where they need us.I am honoured to have been part of thisheritage for the past six years, and I lookforward to being a faithful supporter overVictoria Hospice’s next quarter century. ●Valerie MitchellPresident,Victoria Hospice SocietyOur Vision:quality end-of-life care for allOur Mission:”to enhance the quality of life for thosefacing advanced illness, death and bereavementthrough skilled and compassionate care,education, research and advocacyVal Mitchell hiking inthe Austrian Alps

Wayne Peterson with his wife, ChrisVictoria Hospice SocietyBoard of Directors,2006-07●●●●●●●●●●●Valerie Mitchell, PresidentJohn Tucker,Vice-PresidentBarry Chivers,TreasurerDr.Wendy ClayGill EllisErnie FraserDr. Peter KirkDr. Norma MickelsonMarie RobertsonMark SiebenAnne TaylorThree SixtyRecently, staff at Victoria Hospice learned thatthe number of registered patients on ourprogram had reached an all time high – 360.Although we were all aware that this recordnumber means a higher demand for ouralready stretched resources, what was moresignificant to me was our staff’s positivereaction to this number.Here are some of their comments:360represents the challenge to meet the needsof increasing numbers of palliative carepatients and their families. This has meantinnovative and creative efforts made possiblebecause of our highly motivated, dedicatedVictoria Hospice staff and our workingpartners, including Home & CommunityCare nurses, the BC Cancer Agency and theVancouver Island Health Authority.360describes our Circle of Care. Contained,enclosed, complete, our circle representsa seamless flow of compassion and careembracing patients, families, staff, volunteersand community supporters. Over the pastyear, we have worked hard to find ways towiden this circle to accommodate not onlythese 360 people, but also the many moreto follow.360represents a way of responding toinfluences around us. This year, westrengthened our involvement in educationand research to help ensure that healthcare personnel are better trained aboutend-of-life care issues. We have also reachedout to VIHA to explore partnerships tomake palliative care an integral part of thecommunity.360 is a challenge, but it also characterizesthe many positive features of VictoriaHospice. ●Wayne PetersonExecutive Director,Victoria Hospice Society“The dedicationshownby VictoriaHospice staffwho caredfor mybrother wasunbelievable”PAGE 2

VolunteerTrainingLast year, 59 people completed 50 hours ofVictoria Hospice palliative care volunteertraining to support our patients and theirfamilies at home or on our 17-bed palliativecare in-patient unit. Volunteers also help uswith fundraising events, rooftop gardening,clerical, bereavement and Speakers Bureauroles. Victoria Hospice had over 500 activevolunteers last year. ●Victoria HospiceThrift BoutiqueOur Thrift Boutique celebrated its firstanniversary last year. The Boutique couldn’tfunction without its 54 dedicated volunteerswho tell us that they love working in such abright, spacious and friendly shop. 100% ofstore profits – last year a total of over$67,000 – go directly to Victoria Hospice,helping us meet our $3 million annualfundraising goal.Victoria Hospice Thrift Boutique1315 Cook Street near YatesPhone (250) 361-4966Open Monday to Saturday 10 am – 5 pmFree home pickup service (250) 519-1545We accept donations of better qualitywomen’s fashions, accessories, jewelry,household items, collectibles and booksduring store hours.Visit the Boutique to check on the innovativeregularly scheduled in-store Silent Auctionsof rare collectibles. ●“Your ThriftBoutique is mynew favouriteplace – to buyand drop thingsoff! Greatselection, staffand quality!”Rebecca ReevesC-FAX 1070PAGE 4

Teaching andLearning●●●●●●●●●95 people from the Western provinces,Washington State, Quebec, Ontario, NWTand Nova Scotia attended two VictoriaHospice Psychosocial Care of theDying & Bereaved one-week coursesTwo Palliative Care: Medical Intensiveone-week courses attracted 272 peoplelast year, including 57 physicians, 187nurses, and 28 pharmacists from as far awayas the Yukon and Prince Edward Island126 people attended our 15 th SpiritualCare Conference; this year’s themewas “Meeting of Hearts: Love andHealing at the End of Life” and featuredkeynote speaker Dr. David Kuhl, authorof What Dying People WantVictoria Hospice partnered with theRoyal Jubilee Hospital’s RenalDepartment to host the 2 nd AnnualPalliative Care Education Day forprofessional staff who work in RenalCare Units throughout Vancouver IslandWe held five half-day Palliative CareEducation sessions for health careprofessionals, video-linked throughoutVancouver Island in partnership with theVancouver Island Health AuthorityAlong with the BC Cancer Agency, wehosted palliative care education daysin Campbell River and Parksville for theVancouver Island Palliative Network28 people came to Victoria Hospice toadvance end-of-life care skills last year,including physicians, family practice residents,nurses and students from medical, nursing,counselling or music therapy programsThe 2006 4 th edition of the VictoriaHospice textbook Medical Care of theDying sold across Canada, the USA andother countries including Germany, India,Korea, and AustraliaLast year, we published the 4 th editioncompanion booklet to Medical Careof the Dying to accompany the latesttextbook, and we marketed additionalresource materials as well“I am very grateful to theVictoria Hospice volunteers, nurses,counsellors, and physicians whohelped me research how physiciansbreak bad news to their patients.”Agustin Del Vento●●Family physician Dr. Gail Saigercompleted the national Year of AddedCompetency in Palliative Medicine atVictoria HospiceLast year Dr. Michael Downing,VictoriaHospice Medical Director since 1980, wasnamed to a new position, Manager ofResearch & Development, to focus onways to continually improve the quality ofpalliative care. Dr. Fraser Black is ournew Medical Director.For more information about VictoriaHospice publications, education or training,visit www.victoriahospice.org or callour Manager of Education ServicesBrenda Pengelly at (250) 370-8952. ●University of Victoriagraduate studentAgustin Del Vento,shown with BobbyEdwards and VictoriaHospice MedicalDirector Dr. FraserBlack, was one ofmany students helpedby Victoria Hospicelast year“After takingthis VictoriaHospicecourse, I willmanage painmuch moreconfidently,thus enablingmy patients todie with graceand dignity”PAGE 5PHOTO CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

Care: Last Yearat a Glance●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●832 patients registered for VictoriaHospice end-of-life careAdmissions to our 17-bed palliative carein-patient unit totaled 524Average length of stay in our seven acutecare beds was about eight daysAverage length of stay in our nineextended care beds was 17.4 daysAverage length of stay in our one respitecare bed was seven daysApproximately 22% of all patientsadmitted to our palliative care unitwere able to return home once theirsymptoms improvedWe provide care in 65% of all cancerdeaths in Greater Victoria78% of our patients were diagnosed withcancer (most commonly lung, colon,breast and pancreatic cancer)We provided care in 26% of all deaths inGreater VictoriaThe average time from initial registrationto death was 105 days for cancer patients,and 88 days for non-cancer patientsNon-cancer deaths included congestiveheart failure, stroke, renal failure, lungdisease, HIV-AIDS,ALS and chronic liverdiseaseAverage age at the time of death was74.8 yearsAlmost 2,000 people were helped by ourBereavement staff following a death inthe familyDonations from the community fundedover 40% of the total Victoria Hospicebudget last yearIn the past five years, requests forVictoria Hospice end-of-life care havedoubled ●Did you know...?●●●●●Out of an annual Victoria Hospice Societybudget of $6 million, about $3 million isnot covered by health care funding andmust be raised through communitydonations to our Victoria Hospice andPalliative Care FoundationIn the last decade, 60% of deaths in Canadawere the result of a terminal illness75% of health care dollars are spentduring a person’s last year of life.Despite 650 hospice palliative careorganizations in Canada, capacity oftencannot meet current demand; there are200 palliative care physicians in Canada –five of them at Victoria HospiceOnly 15% of the 220,000 Canadianswho will die this year have access to thekind of comprehensive end-of-life careprovided here in our community byVictoria Hospice ●“VictoriaHospicebereavementcounsellorsand supportgroups madea world ofdifference tome in the darkdays followingmy wife’s deathlast year.Thankyou for yourspecializedexpertise andlove.”PAGE 6

Looking for an InterestingGuest Speaker?Last year, our Victoria Hospice SpeakersBureau volunteers spoke about VictoriaHospice services to over 1,000 people atservice club and community meetings. Weprovide guest speakers to local groups as apublic service at no charge. If you’d like aninteresting speaker for your next meeting,contact our Communications CoordinatorCarolyn Thomas at (250) 370-8813. ●Victoria HospiceValues CharterRESPECTWe respect the intrinsic worth of each individual.COMPASSIONCompassion underscores all our actions and decision-making.We demonstrate an empathic, non-judgmental manner.We believe in the power of tender acts of kindness.INTEGRITYIntegrity forms the basis of personal and professional practice.We take individual and collective responsibility for our actions.We are accountable and invite scrutiny. We are honest and fairin all we do within an ethical framework.COMMITMENTCommitment to quality end-of-life care is fundamental to ourwork and our relationships. Through our dedication, we honourthe people we serve, each other and ourselves.COLLABORATIONCollaboration is fundamental to achieving our best work.Respectful, honest communication with appreciation fordiversity enables us to accomplish together what could not beachieved alone.Victoria Hospice music therapist KirstenDavis accompanies Emily Elsasser,Lindsay Kimm and Joshua Elsasser asthey sing at the bedside of their grandfatherWilfred Elsasser while he was a patient atVictoria Hospice.EXCELLENCEThrough the active pursuit of skills, knowledge, growth andinnovation, we achieve our highest personal and professionalpotential in our unwavering quest for quality end-of-life care. ●www.victoriahospice.orgOn average, over 500 people from around the corner or around the world visited the VictoriaHospice website every day last year. On this website, they could find practical information aboutVictoria Hospice care, read the full text of all 10 Victoria Hospice brochures about grief andbereavement topics, research resources for health care professionals, find links to other palliativecare websites, make a secure online donation to the Victoria Hospice and Palliative CareFoundation, find out about upcoming events and courses, apply for jobs on our team, and muchmore. Watch for our expanded new website in the year ahead. ●“My familycould notbelieve thiskind ofwonderfulcare was evenpossible”PAGE 7

“Truly ARemarkableExperience”Last year, almost 800 dying people in ourcommunity registered for Victoria Hospicecare. Over 330 of those people were ableto die at home thanks to our 24-hourPalliative Response Team and our partnershipswith the Vancouver Island Health AuthorityHome & Community Care nurses. TheVictoria Hospice Palliative Response Teamwas established in 1989. It’s a uniqueend-of-life care service that provides shorttermcrisis consultation and treatment topatients and their family members at home.These visits can often prevent costly andstressful admissions to hospital. The PalliativeResponse Team is also available to helpallow death at home. One such person wasMarylou Knight, whose daughter Margsent us this letter after her mother’s death:Dear Victoria Hospice,I cannot express in words the fine care that Victoria Hospicestaff provided to our family as our mother Marylou Knightmoved into her final days. It was a very difficult, emotional timefor all of us, and Victoria Hospice was with us every step of theway to help guide, teach, counsel, advise, laugh and cry with us.Truly a remarkable experience!In particular, I would like to express my profound gratitude toyour Palliative Response Team. Nurse Karen Hoskyn andcounsellor Rae Ann Brechner gently encouraged us every daythrough each step of the process both Mom and our family hadembarked upon. Mom had wanted to spend her final days athome with her family and her two beloved Cairn Terriers,Robbie and Kianna. We could not have done that without thesupport we received from Victoria Hospice.All of us – Linda, Andrea, Norman and I – will be forevergrateful to the wonderful people at Victoria Hospice.Enclosed please find a donation to your Foundation.Sincerely,Marg ZilkieMarylou KnightDonations to the Victoria Hospice andPalliative Care Foundation make it possiblefor Victoria Hospice to continue the high calibreof skilled and compassionate care we havebeen offering since 1980. To all of ourcommunity donors on behalf of all VictoriaHospice patients and family members, weoffer a heartfelt THANK YOU. ●Victoria Hospice Report to the Community2006/07 is printed on 100% recycled paper“What acomfort itis knowingthat VictoriaHospice wasavailable to usat the otherend of thephone, day ornight.”Victoria Hospice • Richmond Pavilion • 1952 Bay Street, Victoria, BC V8R 1J8 • General inquiries: (250) 370-8715 • www.victoriahospice.org

Victoria Hospice • Richmond Pavilion1952 Bay Street,Victoria, BC V8R 1J8General inquiries: (250) 370-8715Fax: (250) 370-8625Fundraising inquiries: (250) 952-5720Victoria Hospice Thrift Boutique (250) 361-4966Visit our website: www.victoriahospice.orgStatement of Combined OperationsYear ended March 31, 2007Revenues:Government Support $3,177,633Donations, Fundraising & Thrift Boutique 2,922,192Publications & Courses 392,284Endowment & Investment Earnings 390,777Miscellaneous 57,109$6,939,995Expenditures:In-Patient Nursing $2,250,653Community Nursing 167,046Physician & Medical 553,501Counselling, Bereavement & Spiritual 883,575Palliative Response Team 536,793Volunteer Services 137,953Publications & Courses 305,877Education Services 245,382Administration & Communications 598,230Development, Fundraising & Thrift Boutique 720,432Depreciation & Amortization 296,906Research & Committees 143,563Miscellaneous 44,425$6,884,336Excess of revenues over expenditures $55,659Statement of Combined Financial PositionYear ended March 31, 2007Assets:Cash & Prepaids $326,100Accounts Receivable 100,931Investments 4,175,707Publications Inventory 35,221Deferred Development Costs 136,789Facilities & Equipment 1,058,289$5,833,037Liabilities:Payable to Vancouver Island $675,385Health AuthorityHoliday Pay & Accounts Payable 335,427Deferred Revenue 350,466$1,361,278Equity:Invested in Capital Assets $1,058,289Education Endowment Fund 305,028General Endowment Fund 1,491,991Unrestricted 1,616,451$4,471,759Victoria Hospice Expenditures by DepartmentVictoria Hospice Funding by SourcePublications &Courses6%Donations, Fundraising & Thrift Boutique42%Investments &Miscellaneous6%In-Patient& CommunityNursing35%VolunteerServices2%Counselling,Bereavement& Spiritual Care13%PalliativeResponse Team 8%Development, Fundraising& Thrift Boutique10%Physician & Medical 8%Publications & Education 8%Government Support46%Depreciation, Miscellaneous& Research7%Administration &Communications 9%Victoria Hospice Report to the Community 2006/07is printed on 100% recycled paperFor a complete package of audited financialstatements, please contact Victoria Hospiceat (250) 370-8845.