Commonwealth Health Hospice of NEPA observes 30 year anniversary

11/30/2014

Twenty years ago last week, Mercy Health System Northeast Region previewed its new 12-bed inpatient hospice unit to the general public. The facility was located on the third floor of the main building at Mercy (now Regional), where it remains today. 

Prior to opening the first inpatient hospice unit for terminally ill in Lackawanna County, the Mercy Hospice program served Lackawanna County since 1984 and was previously known as Hospice of Pennsylvania.

According to a newspaper article in 1994, a decision was made to develop a hospice inpatient center in order to serve the many terminally ill people who require pain and symptom management or who are unable to stay in their homes at the end of their lives. 

Commonwealth Health Hospice of NEPA will celebrate the program's 30 years with an open house on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the third floor hospice family room. Please join the hospice team for refreshments and door prizes. 

Shown at the weekly patient review meeting at Regional are seated from left, Renee Sleboda, LPN; Chris Getz, MSW; Kim Sulzinski, RN; and Patti Washo. Standing is Dr. Shahroon Choudhry; Tim Weeks, MDiv; Mike Pavuk; Chrissy Jacoby, RN, MSN, hospice administrator; Donna Colborn, RN; Ann Marie Grimes, RN; Ruth Ann Tumavitch, RN, BSN, clinical supervisor; John Hardman-Zimmerman, MDiv; Lillian Schorr, RN; Cheryl Mozdian, MT-BC; Lisa Kirby, volunteer coordinator; Karen Welcome, RN.