Miami, Florida, August 6, 2007—A former oncology nurse from Los Angeles who delivers hospice care with a gentle but honest touch and a local team of 21 doctors, nurses, home health aides, social workers and support staff who helped a dying man return to his native Guatemala were honored nationally at the prestigious VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® Employee Recognition Awards.

VITAS, the nation’s leading hospice provider with 8,640 employees, each year recognizes those who best serve their patients, families and fellow employees. Jennifer Long, RN, and VITAS Team 965 were among this year’s 25 honorees. All work for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of San Gabriel Cities.

Long, an oncology nurse tired of putting patients through pain who switched to a career in palliative medicine received the Outstanding Admissions Nurse Award. Since joining VITAS in 2005, she has developed a reputation for researching her patients’ diagnoses and symptoms so she can better educate them about their treatment. “Jenny is able to tell patients and their families the truth in a manner that is neither sugar-coated nor condescending,” says Denize Jordan, Long’s manager. “She’s honest but compassionate, and patients and families appreciate that.”

Team 965 received the Esther Colliflower Team Award for their work with a patient who was separated from his family 20 years ago when he came to work in the United States. He was poor and struggled to keep food on the table, but when he fell ill, he yearned to go home. The team, two members of which are from Guatemala, took up a collection to keep the patient’s pantry stocked, then contacted the Foundation for End-of-Life Care to request money for his airfare. They arranged for a doctor in Guatemala to take his case. After he was reunited with his family, the elderly man reported that, because of the love and support of his American friends, he was ready to “go to God.” He died in peace two days later.

Team 965 includes Jesus Alonzo, home health aide, of Fontana; Jody Casserly, social worker, of Los Angeles; Pamela McCormick (formerly Chase), hospice-certified LVN, of Victorville; Beth Goce, patient care secretary, of Chino Hills; Judy Kirchoff, RN, of Pasadena; Fong Lei, home health aide, of Arcadia; Maria Lievano, home health aide, of Covina; Laura Lopez, home health aide, of La Puente; Laurie Lopez, RN, of Glendora; Karen Miller, RN, of Alta Loma; Aura Nuñez, home health aide, of La Puente; Ana Ochoa, licensed vocational nurse, of West Covina; Robin Page, hospice-certified licensed vocational nurse, of Covina; Cynthia Pierce, chaplain, of South Pasadena; Rene Portillo, RN, of Covina; Connie Ramirez, home health aide, of Duarte; Vilma Salguero, home health aide, of West Covina; Laura Treister, social worker, of Pasadena; Sally Wahrman, team manager, of Covina; and Dr. Sharon Yee, team physician, of Sierra Madre.

As the best of the best, several of them were honored at a weekend celebration at a beachfront hotel in South Florida.