State Representative David A. Scribner (R-107) has been honored by the hospice caretaker community with the Excellence in Achievement for Public Service Award for his efforts to give hospice patients more security and comfort at the end of their lives.
The Connecticut Coalition to Improve End-of-Life Care awarded him with one of their top recognitions for championing legislation that improves how state hospice care is administered. The bill (HB 5499), which he pushed forward in the House earlier this year, creates new regulations that make it easier to build and operate hospice facilities in Connecticut. The legislation also allows for state sponsored home care.
"I would like to thank the Coalition for this distinguished honor," said Rep. Scribner, a member of the Board of Directors for Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut. "I am proud to have helped in the effort to improve conditions for patients and their families. The area of end-of-life care is vitally important, but is often not thought of until it is needed for a loved one. I hope these regulations will serve the hospice community well and increase accessibility of quality palliative care."
The "Excellence in Achievement for Public Service in End-of-Life" award is presented annually to a group of individuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the field of end-of-life care.
"These regulations have been a long time coming and demanded much effort to be adopted -- we appreciate the work you are doing," said Nealy Zimmermann, Coalition Director.
Rep. Scribner is a longtime advocate and volunteer for the Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut, and is a member of the Public Health Committee.
This recognition comes just one month after Rep. Scribner was named 2012 Legislator of the Year by the Connecticut Association for Home Care and Hospice for his successful efforts to improve palliative care.
The Connecticut Coalition to Improve End-of-Life Care Inc. aims to improve the care of people who are dying and their families, and to ensure that every individual has information about and access to compassionate, quality end-of-life care. For more information, visit http://www.ctendoflifecare.org/
