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I would like to acknowledge and thank all the hospice nurses, therapists, pharmacists, physicians, aides, and many others whom I have known and worked with across decades. This is a thank-you to the many hospice (and home care) leaders and clinicians across many years who asked me great and interesting questions. As hospice has grown in its complexity, so too has the size of this third edition in pages!
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A few people must be acknowledged.
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Jennifer Kennedy for her contributions of time and lots of effort for this book to be updated, totally revised, and generally re-created. I have known Jennifer Kennedy, MA, BSN, RN, CHC, Senior Director, Regulatory and Quality, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHCPO) for more than 10 years. At that time, I had a hospice-specific question and met Jennifer. We have remained friends and colleagues ever since. Thank you so much, Jennifer!
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I would also like to acknowledge Cat Armato, RN, CHPN, CHC, CHPC, Health Care Consultant, Armato & Associates, LLC for her kind sense of humor, formatting skills, clarity in writing, enhancement of content, meeting of deadlines, and more. Thank you, Cat!
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Reviewers of a manuscript always strengthen and enhance the substance of a book, so I also thank the reviewers listed in the following “Reviewer” pages. Some of you have reviewed other editions, which speaks to the relationships forged in homecare and hospice organizations. “New eyes” are always a good thing, as there comes a time when one cannot “see” what was written.
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I am heartened that, in hospice, we know and retain the fundamentals of the best care. This book is also dedicated to you—those mentoring, leading, and otherwise managing in hospice wherever it is provided—inspiring, mentoring, and otherwise helping clinicians be able to provide the best care for hospice patients and families.