Kate Cummings, BSN, MA, PHN 
Director
Fairview Hospice and Transitions Life Choice (TLC) Palliative Home Care Program
Minneapolis, MN
 

Ms. Cummings's Biographical Profile 
Ms. Cummings's responses to Candidate Questionnaire
Ms. Cummings's Interview Responses

Campaign Statement

Over the past three years it has been my honor to be a member of the NHPCO Board of Directors in the capacity of National Director.   While on the Board, and near the end of my first year, I agreed and happily accepted additional responsibilities.  I accepted being a member of the NHPCO Membership Committee. I have had the honor of working with hospice programs across the entire country, especially Minnesota, and listening to hospice colleagues, staff and providers about many issues.  I have brought forward a number of these issues especially as they relate to membership needs and suggestions.  The start of my second year on the Board, I accepted the opportunity to Chair the Education Committee.  What a great experience this has been!  I have found the educational committee with those members from programs around the country, and the NHPCO staff, to be particularly passionate about serving on this committee.    I have participated as well in the sub committees for the planning and the educational content for both the Management Leadership Conference (MLC) and the Clinical Team Conference (CTC).   Providing a focus for hospice and palliative pediatric care education has been a need and theme for CTC.   

I have been involved in hospice work for the past 30 years.  I started as a nurse, have been a hospice volunteer and had the opportunity to be in leadership positions in programs around the country.   I have never had a more personal experience than caring for my mother.  She had palliative care for three months and then last September she elected hospice care.  My husband and I cared for her in our home for five months until she died January of this year.   My family is grateful, so grateful for the services of hospice and what we all received from the hospice team.   Along with me, my family is  exceptionally passionate that their own communities know what hospice provides.  It has ignited more passion in me and only strengthened my commitment to give back.  I am committed to help us all challenge ourselves for the answers  and participate together amidst all of our health care changes, and challenges.   I believe we are stronger together and that strength lies in our membership with NHPCO. 

The NHPCO Board adopted a vision just before I came onto the Board in 2009. Some of that vision is that we are the membership organization of choice for end-of –life care.  This summer the Board will take time for strategic planning.   I will be participating in these strategic planning sessions, more importantly; I would like to be in the position to help actualize the outcomes over the next three years.   Regulatory, financial, quality, compliance, legislative and educational changes are upon us all.  We have accomplished much but there is much more to continue to do.  Having a voice alone does not compare with how we can be heard as a strong unified voice to continue what we need to accomplish. I would like to continue to be an advocate again; your voice to represent the interests of you as providers for hospice and palliative care.

It would be an honor to serve you as National Director on the Board of NHPCO for a second three year term.   I thank you.