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For Immediate Release - March 17, 2006

Pain Management at the End of Life:
Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practice 13th Annual Living with Grief ® Teleconference

JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Each year the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) presents a nationally recognized distance learning program, live-via-satellite, to more than 125,000 people in 2,000 communities. For more than a decade, this annual program has been instrumental in educating health care professionals and families on issues affecting end-of-life care. It also provides an opportunity for a wide variety of professionals-including doctors, nurses, ethicists, educators, social workers and bereavement counselors-to share and exchange ideas and obtain continuing education credits.

National:
This year HFA's 13th Annual National Bereavement Teleconference focuses on "Pain Management at the End of Life." The teleconference will examine the gap between knowledge and application of effective pain control in the person with a terminal condition, including pharmaceutical, psychosocial, spiritual and complementary aspects of pain management. Moderated by Frank Sesno, professor of public policy and communication at George Mason University and special correspondent with CNN, the program will be broadcast Wednesday, April 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Mr. Sesno will lead the panel of noted authorities that includes: Yvette Colón, M.S.W., A.C.S.W., B.C.D.; Kenneth J. Doka, Ph.D., M.Div.; W.A. Drew Edmondson, Attorney General of Oklahoma; Kathleen M. Foley, M.D.; Kelli Gershon, A.P.N., R.N.; William Lamers, Jr., M.D.; Brad Stuart, M.D.; and Douglas J. Weschules, Pharm.D., B.C.P.S.

This distinguished panel of ethicists, educators and hospice experts will look at laws and regulations that hinder the practice of pain management. Discussions will examine ways in which health care workers and the public can work together to improve society's approach to pain management.

Local:
Community Hospice of Northeast Florida and Hardage-Giddens, a Dignity Memorial® provider, will broadcast the teleconference at two locations. The teleconference will be broadcast live-via-satellite at the Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute at Community Hospice in Mandarin and St. Vincent's Medical Center's Bryan Auditorium on Wednesday, April 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Live panel discussions at both sites will begin at 4 p.m.

Susan Ponder-Stansel, L.C.S.W., president and chief executive officer of Community Hospice, will lead the local panel at the Neviaser Educational Institute, which will include: Carl Kyle, M.Ed., manager of spiritual care, Community Hospice; Barbara Supanich, R.S.M., M.D., palliative medicine fellow, Mayo Clinic/Community Hospice; Alissa Hurwitz Swota, Ph.D., assistant professor of philosophy at the University of North Florida; and Anna Wright, M.D., associate medical director, Admissions Department, Community Hospice.

Kathleen I. Johnson, M.A.G., vice president of programs and planning at Community Hospice, will lead the local panel at St. Vincent's Medical Center's Bryan Auditorium, which will include: Suprith Badarinath, M.D., North Florida Hematology and Oncology Associates; Mary Beth Hunt, L.C.S.W., social service specialist, Community Hospice; Robert A. Ponte, M.D., North Florida Anesthesia Consultants, P.A.; and Joel A. Stone, M.D., North Florida Hematology and Oncology Associates.

This teleconference is presented through collaboration between the Hospice Foundation of America, Community Hospice and Hardage-Giddens, a Dignity Memorial® provider.

To R.S.V.P. for the Neviaser Educational Institute broadcast site, please call 904.407.6998. To R.S.V.P. for the St. Vincent's broadcast site, please call 904.407.7033. Attendees should register no later than Monday, April 3.

Established in 1979 as the first hospice program in northeast Florida, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida provides compassionate care to nearly 1,000 patients daily in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, through the support of more than 700 employees and 1,100 volunteers. The nonprofit organization has served more than 38,000 children and adults-at home, in long-term care facilities, hospitals and through its two inpatient facilities in Jacksonville. Community Hospice Foundation generates philanthropic and community support for unfunded and under-funded programs, including indigent hospice care, programs and services through the Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute, and Community PedsCare, a pediatric palliative and hospice program. Care is available to all patients who need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

NOTE: News media are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Jay Magee at 904.407.6392.

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Contact:

Jay Magee

Communications Specialist

904.407.6392

jmagee@communityhospice.com

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Jay Magee, Communications Specialist, 904.596.6392