CONCORDIA HOSPICE OF WASHINGTON

Concordia Hospice of Washington (CHOW) is a hospice agency in Washington, Pennsylvania that is dedicated to providing end-of-life quality, compassionate care for patients and their families in our communities who are facing a terminal illness. An interdisciplinary team comprised of volunteers, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, home health aides, chaplains, bereavement counselors, and medical directors provide individualized care plans that adhere to federal regulations while striving to improve the overall quality of life of those on their end-of-life journey. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, CHOW provided care to 295 patients and their families in their homes over a total of 22,030 days of care in the community. Understanding the difficulty of making the decision to elect hospice, CHOW provides the necessary clinical education and spiritual and emotional support through the CHOW Reflection of Care to help families make an informed decision. Concordia Hospice of Washington (CHOW) works in tandem with home health agencies and hospital systems to create a comprehensive palliative care program. This program focuses on providing compassionate transitions from nursing care to hospice care as illnesses and conditions progress. The organization has a team of hospice doctors and nurses that are up to date on the latest medications for pain and symptom management. Additionally, CHOW recognizes that emotional and spiritual pain is just as real as physical pain and therefore provides clergy and counselors to help patients and families cope with these issues. Bereavement counseling is also offered to both families of those receiving hospice care and those who have not received our services. CHOW is dedicated to providing quality hospice care regardless of whether a patient has health insurance or not. In cases where a patient is uninsured, CHOW takes on the cost and in cases where the patient is insured but has a significant amount of co-pays, CHOW is willing to write off these sums. Over the 2025 fiscal year, we have provided $1,126 worth of benevolent care. CHOW utilizes volunteers to go wherever the client calls their home; that could be a nursing facility, their house, or inpatient unit. These volunteers assist with various tasks and activities throughout the fiscal year. Over the course of this past fiscal year, the volunteers at Concordia Hospice of Washington have provided 706 hours of service with a dollar value of $22,790. This is consistent with the prior fiscal year and a value of $25,017 the prior year. CHOW has targeted specific volunteer needs like companionship, playing music, pet therapy, spiritual support, beautician needs and various other specific needs. Many volunteers donate their sewing and craft making skills to provide items of comfort to patients and families by creating prayer shawls, blankets, lap quilts and rosaries. Volunteers also assist with office functions such as filing, organizing, creating admission packets, processing mail, creating thank you baskets for clinicians, and making condolence calls to those who have lost a loved one. The agency provides education in the local community by discussing hospice care as it relates to a terminal disease. Volunteers help us with marketing and recruiting other volunteers. They help us when we go to health-related functions in the community and are available to discuss hospice services and volunteer opportunities with the public. Total donations and sponsorships made during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 were $5,282. The following organizations have received direct financial support from CHOW through sponsorships of events: South Fayette Township South Fayette Community Day, St. Clair Health Foundation Summer Swing Event Golf Event, Washington Frontier League Baseball, LLC, Washington Health System Foundation Charity Ball, Westmoreland/Frick Hospital Foundation Black Tie for Womens Health Event. CHOW also purchased several items that were given as donations for total of $300. Additional funding via distributions to 501(c)(3) member hospital systems at a total of $800,000 have expanded the like-minded mission within the geographical communities we serve. Employees of CHOW were given the opportunity to participate in several Mission Events organized by Concordia Care Network dba Concordia Community Support Services. These are part of an ongoing Mission Committee that was formed to organize opportunities for employees to serve the community. These are the Mission Events that CHOW employees participated in during the 2024-2025 fiscal year: Back-to-School Collection Drive to support student care closet needs within the local Avella School District: July and August 2024 Toys for Tots Collection drive for the chapters in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, and Washington counties: Nov 2024. City Mission of Washington-hygiene supplies collection drive to support shelter needs: April 2025. These donations, sponsorships and mission events are some of the many ways we serve God by providing for the needs of His people.

CHOW provides a range of inpatient care services, including assessment and management of acute, complex, or uncontrolled symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath. These services are available at the Donnell House, an eight-bed Inpatient Unit (IPU) designed for severe symptom management. During this fiscal year, CHOW provided care to 195 patients and their families through 2,073 days of care. The hospice staff at Donnell House are available around the clock to provide assistance and support for families going through the illness. Additionally, CHOW offers short-term respite care to give family caregivers a break from their duties. Analgesic needs that cannot be managed at home, such as complicated delivery mechanisms (e.g. subcutaneous) and frequent dose titration, can be provided in the general inpatient setting.