Former Harbor Hospice nurse and volunteer recognized as a National Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awardee

[March 8, 2022, West Michigan] – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) will present its annual Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards during the 2022 Leadership and Advocacy Conference hosted at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center (March 7 – 9) in Maryland.

Dan Poel, former Harbor Hospice Registered Nurse and volunteer has been awarded NHPCO’s Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Award in the area of Organizational Support. Dan was nominated for volunteering during the pandemic to administer over 4,500 COVID-19 test to the hospice and palliative care staff.

The NHPCO Volunteer awards, presented at the conference keynotes sessions, recognize hospice volunteers who best reflect the universal concept of volunteerism in its truest sense—serving as an inspiration to others. The honorees have made significant contributions to hospice programs in the areas of care delivery, organizational support, and teamwork and have stepped up to meet challenges that have been brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan is one of five volunteers that will be honored at this year’s conference.

“Dan demonstrated courage and commitment in the throes of the pandemic to conduct COVID-19 testing for our staff on a weekly basis for months,” said Harbor Hospice President/CEO Susan Houseman. “We are grateful for Dan’s selfless act of service in the most challenging of times. His commitment was a vital and invaluable contribution to keep our staff safe and working.

“Volunteers are an integral part of every hospice organization, and these selfless people truly represent the best of what we can be. That’s why we celebrate the volunteers who demonstrate remarkable service, compassion, and commitment in service of hospices in their communities. Their gift of caring has a profound impact on patients, families, and the communities they serve, and we cannot thank them enough for the support they provide,” said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach.

“Hospice volunteers play an indispensable role in enabling hospice and palliative care organizations to offer the highest-quality care and support possible for the people they serve. By sharing their time, energy, and expertise, volunteers bring compassion and caring to the lives of those in need,” added Banach.

These volunteer awards were created and are administered by NHPCO’s MyNHPCO Professional Community, a section of the organization’s membership that promotes the contributions and skills of the different professional disciplines that make up the hospice interdisciplinary team, including volunteer management. The awards are presented as part of the Leadership and Advocacy Conference, the premier conference for leaders and aspiring leaders working to advance the field of hospice and palliative care. Learn more about hospice and palliative care at NHPCO’s CaringInfo.org website.

For more information about the Harbor Hospice-Volunteer program, visit our website at HarborHospiceMI.org.
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