The Sanford Luverne hospice program is on the verge of several major changes.
Staff and volunteers were notified in mid-April that home health services will be based out of Windom and hospice services will be based out of Luverne.
Current home care staff will transition to employment through Good Samaritan Society, which Sanford now owns, and they will no longer provide hospice services after the transition later this summer.
The hospice cottages in Luverne and Worthington will continue operating as they do now, and nursing services will be provided by the current staff of the Worthington program.
Sanford Hospice Luverne will expand to an 11-county group of hospice programs under the Sanford umbrella.
Although nurses and staff were told the effects of the transitions will be minimal, several longtime hospice professionals in Luverne are leaving their positions.
Exodus of longtime staff
Hospice volunteer coordinator Helen Saum, who has been with the program for 26 years, has accepted a position at the Minnesota Veterans Home. Her last day was Friday.
Hospice social worker Jill Roeman, who has been with the Luverne program 20 years, has accepted a job with Avera in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Her last day is Thursday, June 23.
Hospice registered nurse Tammy Moeller was told her position will be eliminated, and she will assume a position at Sanford Luverne in employee health.
Hospice RN Brandi Gaul resigned to work at a local nursing home.
Hospice registered nurse Sara Lanoue, who has been with hospice in Luverne for 24 years, will work for Sanford under Good Samaritan Home Health Care.
Lanoue said she’s committed to providing quality care, but she’s apprehensive about the coming changes.
“I have greatly appreciated being part of the hospice community and being able to care for friends, neighbors and families,” she said.
“But I’m heartbroken. Absolutely heartbroken. I’m sure the new staff are wonderful providers, and my hope is for our amazing community to welcome them and build community connections.”
She said that’s the key for a successful program.
“Continuum of care is what results from building relationships with care providers who know your story and your history and the things that are important to you about your care. … The program is what you see because of the people and passion we have for this.”
She said the hospice home health care component is an important piece of the overall hospice care program. “We’ve been a dual program since Day 1, home health and hospice.”
Continuum of care
Hospice social worker Jill Roemen agreed.
“We were such a good team together,” she said Monday. “Home care often transitions to hospice and the cottage, and having the same nurses and staff involved provides a continuum of care.”
By August, when patients transition to new staff, they will be cared for by different nurses.
Stan Williamson recently lost his wife, Karen, to cancer, and they utilized hospice home care and the hospice cottage during her final days.
“They’re such great people,” he said Monday. “I could call Sara (Lanoue) anytime with any question I had when Karen was at home. And when it was time for her to come to the cottage, she helped us get her there.”
Williamson’s parents, Elmo and Dorothy, also were under hospice care in Luverne during their final days (2008 and 2017), with hospice at the nursing home and The Cottage.
Stan said he had built relationships with local nurses, staff and volunteers when each of his parents passed away, and by the time Karen needed hospice services, they had developed relationships and trust with their caregivers.
Lanoue said the Williamsons “epitomize” the value of local caregivers in the hospice program. “They trusted us because of their experience with us during the care of their other family members.”
“We are living in this community and are taking care of our friends, neighbors, church family … we are caring for our own,” she said. “We are truly serving one another, and how important and valuable that is.”
Community connections
Hospice Chaplain Pastor Phil Booe of St. John Lutheran Church has worked with parishioners in hospice programs in other parts of the country, and he said Luverne’s program is special.
“What struck me as unique about Luverne’s hospice program is how connected the staff is to the community,” he said.
“These are your neighbors and friends. … Significant, too, was the fact that the same nurses who cared for patients in the home health program were there to continue care for those who ended up transitioning into hospice.”
He said he was also impressed by the community support for hospice.
“The regular outpouring of financial support from the community demonstrates just how impactful and appreciated hospice has been in Luverne,” he said.
Booe has been volunteer hospice chaplain since January.
“In the six months since, I've been able to see firsthand the passion each nurse and staff member has for this program,” he said. “I pray God continues to bless Luverne’s hospice program for the sake of those patients and families who are so well served by it.”
Cottage and its donations stay in Luverne
Roemen said she and many other Sanford staff members hope that longtime staff are recognized for their contributions.
For example, Saum raised a net $1.2 million over the past 25 years through the annual hospice charity banquet and auction.
“The work she has done for the program is amazing and we’re so grateful for her and her team of volunteers,” Lanoue said. “There will be other banquets, but without Helen, will it be the same?”
Roemen said it’s important to clear up rumors about the donated money.
“The funds that were donated to The Cottage will stay in Luverne,” she said. “And there will still be a hospice program in Luverne. It just won’t be the same people.”
Lanoue said she hopes the success of the Luverne hospice program continues.
“We want hospice to continue to be a valued part of the community,” she said.
“It won’t be the same people, but we want to see it continue and we’re hopeful these new faces and staff will be able to continue providing care.”
Since 1993, the program has served more than 1,800 patients. Since the Cottage opened in 1998, it has served nearly 800 patients.
Dillon Hinker, director of Sanford Home and Community-Based Services, offered the following statement Monday in response to the Star Herald’s question about why the changes are being implemented.
“Sanford Health is honored to care for hospice patients in Luverne and surrounding areas. To streamline operations, we are consolidating the Sanford Hospice locations in Worthington and Canby with Sanford Luverne Hospice. These businesses will operate from the Luverne location and Sanford Hospice caregivers will continue to care for our hospice patients and families.”