Four Seasons Anticipates the Future

I think many of you would agree that we are living in very interesting times. This statement is not meant to be negative in nature; quite the contrary. While every facet of the healthcare industry is facing changes and some level of uncertainty, change often creates opportunity for those who are prepared to seize it. I’m convinced that Four Seasons is positioned well to not only meet the challenges of a changing landscape, but to thrive in such an environment. The Leadership of Four Seasons (Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors) has not been resting on its laurels and celebrating its past success. While 2009 was an amazing year for our organization, capped off by the receipt of the coveted Circle of Life Award, the leadership of Four Seasons has been busily at work looking for ways to reach more people in Western North Carolina with quality end of life care and to continue building the infrastructure to carry our organization well into the future.

Recently, in a meeting of the Board’s Executive Committee staff outlined various initiatives that are currently being pursued. Each was categorized by its role in helping Four Seasons achieve its goals and prioritized based on the positive impact it will have on the organization. These initiatives included expanding the depth and breadth of existing services along with filling in gaps that will provide an even greater experience for our patients and their families. While it would not be prudent to outline these opportunities in great detail at this time, it is safe to say there is a tremendous amount of strategic planning being done by the Four Seasons team.

As we continue to move forward with these strategic initiatives we will again reach out to the Four Seasons Community to make you aware of the role that you can play in helping our organization accomplish even greater success in the future.

As always, we thank you for your continued support of Four Seasons. Stay tuned!

Written by Greg Burnette, Four Seasons Board Chair

Four Seasons Honors Volunteers & Jean Hoogstra at Reception

Four Seasons celebrated National Volunteer Week on April 20th at Blue Ridge Community College with the 19th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception honoring over 370 dedicated volunteers.

At the event, Jean Moulthrop Hoogstra, Four Seasons founder and matriarch, was recognized for her 30 years of volunteering. She spoke to the nearly 130 volunteers in attendance about the importance of volunteering and what Four Seasons has meant to her. Staff members surprised her by unveiling a new sign for the agency on South Allen Road: Four Seasons - The Jean Moulthrop Hoogstra Community Campus.

Four Seasons volunteers’ contributions of time and talent have served over 1,100 hospice patients during the past year. In 2009, they donated 29,983 hours for an estimated cost savings of $607,156.

Four Seasons volunteers perform a wide variety of jobs, from sitting at the bedside of a patient to data entry, from working at the Hospice Home Store to sewing hundreds of gowns and pillows. Volunteers work on the Board of Directors, provide landscaping to the Elizabeth House gardens and help with several annual fund-raising events. They stuff envelopes, provide respite to care givers, educate our community about hospice and palliative care, help with our children’s grief camp and work at our inpatient facility, Elizabeth House. Volunteers do not need a medical background - they come from all walks of life.

If you are interested in joining the Four Seasons volunteer team or want to hear about other ways to help, call Donna Nawrocki at 828-692-6178.