April 27, 2018
Community Hospice has a new chief clinical officer, Karryn Unruh-Salonen, who most recently was director of clinical operations for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.
Salonen is a registered nurse with more than 30 years of health care experience. She will continue to be an educator for Doctors Medical Center in Modesto.
April 23, 2018
For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Kristin Mostowski | Director of Public Relations, Community Hospice | Kristin.Mostowski@hospiceheart.org | 209.578.6301
Community Hospice Recognizes Volunteers at Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Celebration
MODESTO, CA (April 23, 2018) – Community Hospice, the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice provider in the Central Valley, celebrated and recognized their volunteers at their annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and Award Ceremony on April 18, 2018. All volunteers received a special certificate of recognition. Several volunteers were recognized for outstanding service and dedication to the mission of Community Hospice and four dedicated volunteers were awarded the 2017 Mary Jean Coeur-Barron Volunteer of the Year Award. Named after the co-founder of Community Hospice, the awards are given each year to four volunteers for their outstanding service and spirit of excellence. One volunteer is chosen from the following: Community Hospice, Friends of Community Hospice, Community Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Stores and Camp Erin® of the Central Valley.
The Mary Jean Couer-Barron Community Hospice Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Ms. Ronna Porges. Ronna provides compassionate grief support to members of our community through the Community Hospice Grief Support Services Department. She also bakes delicious treats for the patients and families at the Community Hospice Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Ronna has been nicknamed our “baking angel”.
The Mary Jean Couer-Barron Friends of Community Hospice Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Mrs. Carol Mulrooney; current Social Chair of the Friends of Community Hospice. Carol has served in many capacities to support the fundraising efforts and mission of Community Hospice. She has played a significant role in the success of Friends of Community Hospice Annual Card Party, the Fantasy of Trees event as well as others.
Lillian Chua was awarded the Mary Jean Couer-Barron Hope Chest Thrift Store Volunteer of the Year. Lillian has been volunteering with Community Hospice for nearly 20 years. Her ongoing dedication to the mission of Community Hospice is a source of inspiration to her fellow volunteers.
The 2017 Mary Jean Coeur-Barron Camp Erin® of the Central Valley award was presented to Mr. Jason LeBeouf. Jason has served as a cabin buddy at camp for the past four years. His dedication to supporting our campers along their grief journey has been a blessing to many in our community.
In 2017, more than 500 volunteers contributed 22,044 hours in support of the Community Hospice mission. “Volunteers are the heart of Community Hospice and we are blessed to have so many community residents give their time and talent to support our mission,” said C. DeSha McLeod, President and CEO of Community Hospice. “We are grateful for all our volunteers that help support our patients and their families, and the programs we provide our communities.”
To learn more about volunteer opportunities or any of Community Hospice’s programs or services, visit hospiceheart.org or call 209.578.6300.
Photo Caption: The 2017 Mary Jean Coeur-Barron Volunteer of the Year Award Winners (From Left to Right) Lillian Chua, Jason LeBeouf and Ronna Proges. (Not pictured: Carol Mulrooney)
About Community Hospice
Community Hospice is the largest and oldest nonprofit hospice agency in the Central Valley. Serving the community since 1979, Community Hospice has cared for thousands of friends and neighbors offering compassionate and quality care, education and support to terminally ill patients and families, regardless of ability to pay. Care extends to over 2000 patients each year in private homes, skilled nursing facilities, retirement communities and at the 16-bed inpatient Community Hospice Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Community Hospice also provides grief support services to anyone in the community. For more information, please call 209. 578.6300 or visit hospiceheart.org.
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April 20, 2018
Community Hospice was honored to host Dr. Jessica Zitter, MD, MPH at our annual Community Hospice Clinical Education Dinner. Her moving and thought-provoking lecture was an inspiration to those in attendance. It was our privilege to bring this health care pioneer to our community.
April 19, 2018
Community Hospice was honored to celebrate the dedication of our many wonderful volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Thank you to all of those who donate their time and talent to support the mission of Community Hospice.
April 19, 2018
For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Kristin Mostowski, Director of Public Relations | Community Hospice | Kristin.Mostowski@hospiceheart.org | 209.578.6301
Community Hospice Appoints New Chief Clinical Officer
Community Hospice Welcomes New Chief Clinical officer, Mrs. Karryn Unruh-Salonen, MSN
Modesto (April 17, 2018) – Community Hospice, the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice agency serving the Central Valley, announced the appointment of new Chief Clinical Officer, Mrs. Karryn Unruh-Salonen. Mrs. Salonen joins Community Hospice with over 30 years of clinical and healthcare expertise.
“Community Hospice is pleased that Mrs. Salonen has accepted the position of Chief Clinical Officer,” said C. DeSha McLeod, President/CEO of Community Hospice. “We are proud to welcome her into this position and feel Mrs. Salonen is the right choice for our patients and families as well as our Community Hospice family.”
Mrs. Salonen has served in various leadership roles in the community to promote health and wellness. She recently served as the Director of Clinical Operations for Stanislaus County Health Services Agency since 2015. She also currently serves and will continue to serve as an Educator for Doctor’s Medical Center in Modesto.
Mrs. Salonen attended Loyola University in New Orleans were she received her Master of Science Degree in Nursing, Fort Hays University in Kansas where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree and Modesto Junior College. She is licensed as a Registered Nurse by the State of California.
About Community Hospice
Community Hospice is the largest and oldest nonprofit hospice agency in the Central Valley. Serving the community since 1979, Community Hospice has cared for thousands of friends and neighbors offering compassionate and quality care, education and support to terminally ill patients and families, regardless of ability to pay. Care extends to over 2000 patients each year in private homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and at the sixteen-bed Community Hospice Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Community Hospice also provides bereavement and grief support to anyone in the community. For more information please call (209) 578-6300 or visit hospiceheart.org.
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April 19, 2018
Alexis Pigorsch serves as one of our Grief Support Specialists for Community Hospice. Her positive attitude and dedication to the mission of Community Hospice is an inspiration. Thank you for all your hard work, Alexis!
April 17, 2018
The Community Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Stores will have a booth at Modesto’s Earth Day event at Graceada Park from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. this Saturday! We will have a donation truck on site to accept gently used items from our community members. We hope to see you there!
April 13, 2018
Thank you to everyone who attended and help support the 2nd Annual Stanislaus County Caregiver County Resource Fair!
April 3, 2018
Starting this April, Medicare will be issuing new cards that no longer contain Social Security Numbers. The new cards will have new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) instead of Social Security Number (SSN)-based Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs) to help protect the identities of people with Medicare. The new card won’t change your coverage or benefits. You’ll get more information from Medicare when your new card is mailed. In the state of California, Medicare cards will be mailed in May 2018.
Here’s how you can get ready:
■ Make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be
corrected, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213.
TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
■ Beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card. We’ll
never ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new
Medicare Number and card.
■ Understand that mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card
might arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s.
3 Things to Know
1. People who are enrolling in Medicare for the first time will be among the first in the country to receive the new cards.
2. Your new card will automatically come to you. You don’t need to do anything as long as your address is up to date. If you need to update your address, visit your My Social Security account.
3. Once you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old Medicare card and start using your new card right away.
