S4 E7: Redefining End-of-Life Care: Leadership, Compassion, and Operations with Nick George of High Peaks Hospice
Host: Ann Donnelly
Guest: Nick George, Executive Director, High Peaks Hospice
In this powerful episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly sits down with Nick George, the Executive Director of High Peaks Hospice. Celebrating 40 years of service, High Peaks Hospice provides vital, compassionate end-of-life care across six New York State counties. Operating within the second-largest geographic coverage area for a hospice in the state, Nick and his team of nearly 50 staff members bring their services directly to the communities they serve.
Nick dispels the common misconception that hospice is a specific facility, explaining how their dedicated “pit crew” of medical and emotional support staff goes directly to wherever a patient calls home. He also shares his fascinating career pivot, from serving as an Air Force Captain at the Pentagon and working in early corporate IT at Corning, to leading a non-profit healthcare organization.
Whether you are a healthcare professional, a business leader interested in non-profit management, or someone looking to better understand end-of-life resources for your family, this conversation offers a masterclass in balancing heartfelt community service with strong operational infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Hospice is a Service, Not a Place:High Peaks Hospice does not operate a residential facility; instead, they deliver care directly to patients in their private homes, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities.
- The Circle of Care:The organization supports patients and their family caregivers by providing a wraparound team that includes RNs, LPNs, social workers, spiritual care specialists, and trained volunteers.
- Education Before Crisis:The best time to learn about hospice services is well before an emergency or terminal diagnosis occurs, allowing families to make informed decisions without added stress.
- Accessible and Fully Covered:Qualification for hospice is medically based on a terminal prognosis of six months or less, regardless of age or financial need.
- Comprehensive Financial Support:Once a patient is on service, hospice covers all related medical equipment, such as hospital beds and wheelchairs, as well as pain management medications.
- A Unique Volunteer Mandate:Hospice is the only healthcare sector federally mandated to maintain a workforce comprised of 5% volunteers.
- Creative Volunteer Opportunities:Volunteers support the mission by sitting with patients, walking dogs, assembling admission bags, and even knitting lap blankets or protective clothing.
- The Dual-Priority Business Model:High Peaks Hospice operates on two main goals: ensuring every patient feels like the most important person in the world, and keeping the business financially and operationally healthy to sustain that care.
- Seeking Strategic Board Members:To support their ongoing mission, the organization is actively recruiting new board members with strong backgrounds in business ownership and finance.
More Information
Connect with High Peaks Hospice:
- Website:highpeakshospice.org
- Phone:518-891-0606
- Get Involved:Reach out to their office to request an information packet, make a referral, or learn about volunteer opportunities.
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