Prevention and screening are our best defenses against cancer. All Americans can reduce their risk by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, limiting sun exposure, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, living tobacco-free, and taking advantage of appropriate regularly scheduled cancer screenings. For those covered by Medicare, regular screening with a healthcare professional can play a key role in preventing cancer and detecting the disease early, when it is often most treatable. Under the Affordable Care Act, more people with Medicare can now receive many preventive services at no additional cost.

Medicare provides coverage of the following cancer screenings:
 Breast Cancer (mammography and clinical breast exam)
 Cervical and Vaginal Cancer (pap test and pelvic exam (includes the clinical breast exam))
 Prostate cancer (PSA blood test and Digital Rectal Exam)
 Colorectal Cancer
 Fecal Occult Blood Test
 Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
 Colonoscopy
 Barium Enema

Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that a physician’s recommendation is the most powerful factor in a patient’s decision to receive preventive and screening services. By discussing Medicare-covered cancer screenings and other available options, and engaging patients in decision-making regarding their choices, you can help prevent, treat, and beat the disease. Encourage your patients to get screened—it could save their lives.

More Information for Healthcare Professionals:
 MLN Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Healthcare Professionals (see Chapter 11)
 MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Webpage
 MLN Cancer Screenings Brochure
 MLN Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services
 Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling Services brochure
 National Cancer Institute website
 Smokefree.gov website

www.nih.gov

Thank you to all of our volunteers, we sincerely appreciate all that you do!

To read more about the event in the Poway Patch, click here.

The LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation has a passion for funding exceptional programs that enhance the end-of-life journey for patients and their families throughout San Diego County.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors, including Peg Eddy, Principal of Creative Capital Management Incorporated and Julie Sugita, California Licensed Professional Fiduciary, I am delighted to officially welcome these new members to the LightBridge family,” said Jill Mendlen, founder and president of LightBridge Hospice. “We’re so fortunate to have two distinguished business leaders, Karen Ladner and David Oates, joining our Board. They will undoubtedly bring new insights and perspectives that will enhance the work we do with the foundation.”

Karen Ladner is the owner of the Karen M. Ladner Law Office and has practiced in San Diego for more than 30 years, in areas such as Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Business Formation and Contracts, and Commercial Real Estate Transactions. She previously served as Owner and CFO of Fisch, Spiegler, Ginsburg, Ladner & Attarian, APLC. Ladner serves on the Board of Directors for UCSD’s Town and Gown, and is actively involved in a variety of local organizations including the San Diego Foundation and Rolling Readers. She is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association and the State Bar of California. Ladner graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science from the University of Houston, later receiving her J.D. at the University of California, Hastings College of Law.

David Oates possesses more than 15 years of experience managing marketing and public relations programs on a tactical and strategic level that spans both agency, corporate and military environments. He is the Founder and President of Stalwart Communications, a Pay-on-Performance public relations and marketing firm. He previously held positions as Marketing Director for Financial Profiles, a financial planning software company, and he served as a combat and public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. Oates is an accredited public relations (APR) expert affiliated with the Public Relations Society of America, and serves on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Venture Group, Association of Corporate Growth, San Diego Chapter, the Chairmen’s RoundTable and the Rotary Club of San Diego Rotary. He received his MBA from San Diego State University’s Executive Program and is a University of Maryland graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in arts.

The non-profit LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation strives to bring peace, comfort and support to patients and their families by funding programs and services that enhance the end-of-life journey. For example, “Simple Gifts” provides small grants to fulfill end-of-life wishes and dreams of hospice patients. Recent gifts include a legacy garden, Kindle, Chargers sweatshirt, long distance calling card and Big Mac-a-Day meals. Another program finances integrative therapies such as aromatherapy, healing touch, music, and pet therapy. The foundation also hosts an annual “Remembrance Walk” to honor loved ones lost.

ABOUT LIGHTBRIDGE HOSPICE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation, the charitable arm of LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care, has a passion for funding exceptional programs that enhance the end-of-life journey for patients and their families throughout San Diego County. To volunteer, donate or learn more about the foundation, please contact the foundation at www.lbhcf.org, contact@lbhcf.org or (858) 458-2992.

ABOUT LIGHTBRIDGE HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE
San Diego-based LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care provides patients and their families an individualized program of care that focuses on comfort, support and peace of mind, wherever a patient calls home. The company is Accredited by The Joint Commission. LightBridge is a licensed Medi-Cal, Medicare-certified provider and accepts most insurance plans including TriCare and Champus. Find out more about LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care at www.LightBridgeHospice.com.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors, including Peg Eddy, Principal of Creative Capital Management Incorporated and Julie Sugita, California Licensed Professional Fiduciary, I am delighted to officially welcome these new members to the LightBridge family,” said Jill Mendlen, founder and president of LightBridge Hospice. “We’re so fortunate to have two distinguished business leaders, Karen Ladner and David Oates, joining our Board. They will undoubtedly bring new insights and perspectives that will enhance the work we do with the foundation.”

Karen Ladner is the owner of the Karen M. Ladner Law Office and has practiced in San Diego for more than 30 years, in areas such as Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Business Formation and Contracts, and Commercial Real Estate Transactions. She previously served as Owner and CFO of Fisch, Spiegler, Ginsburg, Ladner & Attarian, APLC. Ladner serves on the Board of Directors for UCSD’s Town and Gown, and is actively involved in a variety of local organizations including the San Diego Foundation and Rolling Readers. She is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association and the State Bar of California. Ladner graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science from the University of Houston, later receiving her J.D. at the University of California, Hastings College of Law.

David Oates possesses more than 15 years of experience managing marketing and public relations programs on a tactical and strategic level that spans both agency, corporate and military environments. He is the Founder and President of Stalwart Communications – Pay-on-Performance PR and Marketingalwart Communications, a Pay-on-Performance public relations and marketing firm. He previously held positions as Marketing Director for Financial Profiles, a financial planning software company, and he served as a combat and public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. Oates is an accredited public relations (APR) expert affiliated with the Public Relations Society of America, and serves on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Venture Group, Association of Corporate Growth, San Diego Chapter, the Chairmen’s RoundTable and the Rotary Club of San Diego Rotary. He received his MBA from San Diego State University’s Executive Program and is a University of Maryland graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in arts.

The non-profit LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation strives to bring peace, comfort and support to patients and their families by funding programs and services that enhance the end-of-life journey. Programs include “Simple Gifts” providing small grants to fulfill end-of-life wishes and dreams of hospice patients, recent gifts include a legacy garden, a Kindle Reader, Chargers sweatshirt, and long distance calling cards. Another program finances integrative therapies such as aromatherapy, healing touch, music, and pet therapy. The foundation also hosts an annual “Remembrance Walk” to honor loved ones lost.

ABOUT LIGHTBRIDGE HOSPICE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation, the charitable arm of LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care, has a passion for funding exceptional programs that enhance the end-of-life journey for patients and their families throughout San Diego County. To volunteer, donate or learn more about the foundation, please contact the foundation at www.lbhcf.org, contact@lbhcf.org or (858) 458-2992.

ABOUT LIGHTBRIDGE HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE
San Diego-based LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care provides patients and their families an individualized program of care that focuses on comfort, support and peace of mind, wherever a patient calls home. The company is Accredited by The Joint Commission. LightBridge is a licensed Medi-Cal, Medicare-certified provider and accepts most insurance plans including TriCare and Champus. Find out more about LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care at www.LightBridgeHospice.com.

This program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), empowers hospice professionals to meet the unique needs of ailing Veterans.

“As Veterans age, they face a distinct set of needs and challenges, including medical issues related to where they served, memories that might trigger anxiety and stoicism that makes asking for help difficult,” said Jill Mendlen, founder and president of LightBridge Hospice. “After all they’ve done for us it’s a privilege to thank those who served with the superior end-of-life care that they deserve.”

To reach Partner Level 4, LightBridge focused on increasing access to and improving the quality of care former military personnel receive in San Diego County. LightBridge heightened the integration of Veteran-specific education for staff, volunteers and the community, enhanced the Veteran Volunteer Program and developed resources to help patients and their families access these benefits. Then, LightBridge was tasked with measuring the impact of its community interventions.

In addition, LightBridge created special services and programs for Veterans that includes “No Vet Dies Alone,” an 11^th hour program for patients without family and a Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer program focusing on companionship. LightBridge staff and volunteers (including Army Reservists) also conduct honor ceremonies for terminally ill retired military personnel to thank them for their service with a certificate, pin and pillow made from the uniform of the recipient’s branch of military. Craig Gillette, a 60-year-old Navy Vietnam Veteran from Jamul, is the latest honoree.

“I’m really proud. You put a smile on my heart,” said Craig Gillette at the LightBridge Hospice honor ceremony, which recently took place at his house. “I never experienced this kind of reception coming home from the Vietnam War. This is my homecoming.” 

According to the NHPCO, one out of every four dying Americans is a Veteran. That’s why it became so important for LightBridge to develop and implement new policies and programs that help assist a community with such a heavy military population.

“This level of expertise is very personal to the staff at LightBridge because many of us have a military background or family in the military,” said Pamela Hough, Sr. Vice President, Operations/Administrator of LightBridge Hospice. “I’m so proud of our team that has worked so hard to prove their level of commitment to San Diego’s Veteran population!”

To volunteer, donate or learn more about the LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care Veterans’ Program please call 858-458-2992 or visit: www.LightBridgeHospice.com/blog/

For more information about the program, visit We Honor Veterans.

There is an immediate need for uniforms from all branches of the military to be sewn into pillows for Veterans’ honor ceremonies. Please send them to: LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care, 6155 Cornerstone Court East, Suite 220 San Diego, CA 92121 or call 858-458-2992 to arrange for pick up.

To date, LightBridge is one of only a dozen hospices in the US, the only one in California, to attain the We Honor Veterans Partner Level 4.

For more information, visit We Honor Veterans, a national hospice provider awareness program conducted by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Workplace Excellence Awards (WEA) are presented annually by the San Diego Society for Human Resource Management to educate and enlighten business leaders on the contributions exceptional HR practices make to the success and profitability of an organization. The WEA event provides an exciting showcase of the HR profession and the tremendous impact effective HR management has upon all operational aspects of a business enterprise.

VIETNAM VET HONORED KNSD-TV 11-18-11 11pm

We are very lucky to have Tauna as part of our team! She is an integral part of our success with her leadership skills and ability to develop strong and meaningful relationships with other volunteer groups in the community. Of course, this is in addition to the positive spark she brings to those she makes contact with.

The Kathy Shreves Hospice Volunteer Administrator’s Award, given by the Hospice Volunteer Manager Association (HVMA), exemplifies professionals who exhibit the highest principles and ethics in the field of hospice volunteer administration. Some of the milestones Tauna has achieved include expanding the diversity of our volunteer group to best meet the needs of our patients, connecting with Veteran groups to share information and opportunities regarding our nationally recognized Veterans Program, organizing Healing Touch and aromatherapy trainings and offerings, and an overall re-energizing of the volunteer group.

There are many more activities and programs that Tauna oversees, and her attention to the details and the people involved continue to have a positive impact on our patients and their families hospice journey.

Please help us congratulate Tauna on this very special accomplishment.