To: NHPCO Membership
Date:  Friday, March 25, 2005
Re:  Update on Events in Florida

Throughout the week NHPCO has provided information about events unfolding in Florida that are the center of passionate debate across the country, that of Terri Schiavo and her family.  Our thoughts are with Terri, her husband, her parents, and other family, friends and supporters, as well as her caregivers. As many Americans mark the special days of Holy Week and we near the start of Passover, we add our prayers to those going out to all who are struggling at this difficult time.

It seems the final legal decisions have been made and this situation may be nearing a conclusion. Throughout this process, hospice has provided the highest quality compassionate care for Terri and to her family. The mission of hospice is to care for those in times of greatest need, and I commend all those in Florida who continue to support this patient and family under the glare of media cameras and public scrutiny. Their dedication to serve and honor the wishes of those they serve, within the letter of the law, should be recognized. Again and again they have demonstrated that hospice is there for people when decisions are difficult and answers are hard to find. They have gone about their work as all hospice professionals do, quietly, respectfully and competently.

NHPCO senior staff members have been focused on this story and have been actively engaged with the media to provide accurate information and appropriate messages about advance care planning and we have been in contact with most major television and radio media outlets, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox, C-SPAN, several public radio stations, BBC, and Voice of America. We provided information to most major newspapers, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Washington Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, Dallas Morning News, and many, many more. Our Caring Connections Web site, www.caringinfo.org , is mentioned in People Magazine and will appear in the next issue of Newsweek as source of information on advance planning. Our resources have also been recommended by National Public Radio.  In fact, in the recent week, our Caring Connections page has received more than 20,000 hits from Internet visitors, with 58,000 total hits on the NHPCO Web site. We've received more than 3,000 emails requesting advance directives, and our HelpLine staff has answered more than 2,500 phone calls for information. This certainly demonstrates that our message is reaching people across the country. Are there communities where our message hasn't been heard? Of course, but we are doing our best to continue with our active engagement and education efforts and you can help us spread the word by referring people to the HelpLine (800-658-8898) and Web site (www.caringinfo.org)..

NHPCO is also pleased to report that yesterday afternoon, J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO, received an invitation to testify before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension. A special hearing has been set for April 6, 2005 to examine issues relating to end-of-life wishes and advance care planning. This request is due in part to the constructive messages offered by NHPCO and all those in the hospice community who are working to educate the media and the communities in which they live.

As this week comes to a close, NHPCO would like to again share with our members some information and materials that may be helpful as they respond to inquiries in their communities or work to further educate those they serve.  There is a special section on the NHPCO Web site where all of these materials can be found.  Go to the “What's New” section of www.nhpco.org and click on “Advance Care Planning,” or visit www.caringinfo.org and follow the “Advance Care Planning” link.

1. A new op-ed has been posted on the site, “Hospice Caring for Terri Schiavo: The Best that Humankind Can Offer,” looks at the question of “why hospice.” Who better than hospice to minister and shepherd those at such a challenging time in their lives?

2. NHPCO offers some general talking points about hospice, and a bit of information about hospice's work in the case of Terri Schiavo .

3.  Members are reminded of the other editorials available on the Web site, including articles "Terri Schiavo Could Prompt Much Needed Discussion about End-of-Life Wishes," by Donald Schumacher, "Physician Shares Challenges in Providing End-of-Life Care," by David Casarett, and "Terri's Gift," by William Colby.

4. Information on advance care planning , including state specific advance directives that can be downloaded at no charge and other complimentary brochures and information. Please offer www.caringinfo.org as a resource to people in your community.

In addition to the tremendous number of requests for information, we have received many telephone calls and email messages from individuals all over the country. We have been impressed by the wide range of opinions that are so passionately held and we respect the opinions of those coming from all sides regarding the issues in question. NHPCO believes strongly that we as hospice and palliative professionals must always put our individual needs and opinions aside as we compassionately care for patients and families. Yes, this may be difficult at times, especially if our personal views differ from those we serve, but we are committed to caring for people respectfully without judgment—and at times it is not always simple.  All people deserve our compassion. Thank you for what you are doing in your local community – it does make a difference for each patient and family we serve.