LOCAL PHYSICIAN KERMIT WHITE, M.D. EARNS NATIONAL AWARD

Hospice Compassus – Medical Director Recognized for Leadership Role in Establishing U.S. Benchmark for Quality Hospice Care

DETROIT, Mich. – Kermit White, M.D., family medicine practitioner and Medical Director for the Hospice Compassus program in Farmington Hills, was recently awarded the R. Sean Morrison, M.D. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Hospice Physician Leadership. The inaugural award was presented at a national physicians meeting to recognize Hospice Compassus programs and physicians for their leadership in continuing to raise industry benchmarks for quality hospice care nationwide.

Dr. White was recognized for his critical involvement in Hospice Compassus’ Medical Directors Advisory Council and his performance in the four criteria for the award:

• Recognition as a knowledgeable hospice and palliative care resource in the Farmington Hills community
• Involvement in determining and driving quality indicators and charting a course for excellence in patient care
• Interest and ability in promoting the Hospice Compassus quality initiative locally and to others in the hospice industry
• Effective and consistent participation in coordination of patients’ care with the larger hospice care team

“I believe that just as much as Hospice Compassus has been ahead of the curve on the national quality initiative, they have also been ahead of the curve with regard to their involvement with physicians, and charging us with a leadership role in improving quality standards for hospice care and becoming an educator to others on the role of hospice in the larger continuum of care,” said Dr. White. “I’m pleased to accept this award on behalf of the entire Hospice Compassus – Farmington Hills team and their tireless efforts to set the bar ever higher when it comes to treating hospice patients with exceptional care and compassion.”

Dr. White is a member of the American Medical Directors Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Practice, and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice.

The Hospice Compassus “Triple Crown” awards were established in 2012 to highlight the programs, physicians and staff that best demonstrate the company’s commitment to delivering quality patient outcomes, increasing access to hospice services, and to physician leadership.

The R. Sean Morrison, M.D. Award is named to honor the achievements of Dr. Sean Morrison, a professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Department of Geriatrics. He is a past president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and is the recipient of their national leadership award. Dr. Morrison is a world-renowned authority and advocate on the subject of hospice and palliative care and has published more than 100 research articles and 15 books on the subject.

Hospice Compassus took a voluntary, proactive lead in setting new quality standards for the hospice industry by launching the “Keeping the Promise” initiative in 2011, including a commitment to becoming a physician-driven organization and expanding access to high quality hospice care to those who qualify for it.

In December, Hospice Compassus became the first hospice provider in the U.S. to publicly reveal patient quality data. The data shows significant achievements toward establishing and continuing to raise industry benchmarks after a year of reporting quality data at more than 50 community-based programs nationwide.

Hospice Compassus will continue to carry out its national quality initiative until 100 percent compliance is achieved through continuous action in the Detroit area and each of its community-based hospice programs across the U.S.

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