The year 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of Haven Hospice as an organization. There have been many milestones throughout the last three decades, none of which could have been possible without the confidence and trust placed in us by patients and families, as well as the generous support of volunteers, donors and the communities we serve.

Haven Hospice has led the cultural transformation of how end-of-life and palliative care is provided to patients and families in north Florida. Thirty years ago, there was no hospice care; today, nearly 60 percent of all those who die in North Florida are cared for by a hospice organization.

In 1979, hospice was a new and burgeoning concept in our country and was introduced to the Gainesville area by a local physician, Dr. Raymond Fitzpatrick. It was soon embraced by Ed Peddie, who was the administrator of Alachua General Hospital, and funded by Alice Sharpe, president of the hospital’s auxiliary.

Haven began providing hospice care in 1979 out of a one-room office at Alachua General Hospital by one staff person and a handful of volunteers.

Since that time, Haven Hospice has cared for more than 45,000 patients and families. There now seven offices including four freestanding inpatient hospice care centers, serving 18 counties and more than 13,000 square miles.

The founders 30 years ago had no idea where the hospice concept of care would go and it is impossible to conceive what it might be like 30 years from now. But one thing is certain, Haven will always be committed to this: “To be THE Choice for End-of-Life and Palliative Care".

HAVEN HOSPICE TIMELINE

1979
Dr. Raymond Fitzpatrick introduces hospice care to the Gainesville community. Together with the Alachua General Hospital administrator and the AGH Auxiliary president, he lay the foundation for a hospice program that opens under the name Hospice of North Central Florida (HNCF).

Donna S. Hall, RN, MS, M.Ed., CHPN, is named to serve as HNCF’s first hospice director, which serves Alachua and Bradford counties. Dr. Fitzpatrick volunteers as its medical director during the organization’s first six years of operation. 

Fay M. Knight, RN, BSN, becomes the first HNCF volunteer.

1983
Patrice C. Moore, RN, MSN, is named Administrator and Chief Operating Officer of HNCF—serving in that capacity until 1999.

1985
Dr. Bruce Stechmiller is named Medical Director of HNCF.

HNCF receives the Certificate of Need to serve the needs of patients and families in Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties. Haven Hospice begins providing in-home hospice care to patients and families in this region.

1990
Dr. Mary Aplin is named Medical Director of HNCF.

HNCF earns accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the national leader in the certification of health-care providers.

The Florida legislature approves the first Hospice Licensure Law in the country. The law is later used as the framework for the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

HNCF receives the Certificate of Need to expand its service area to include Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Union, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Putnam counties.

1991
HNCF opens its first office in Lake City and Palatka.

1992
The need for a free-standing inpatient care center is identified. Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of HNCF Board Member Laura Carmichael, a longtime resident of Gainesville, the concept for a hospice care center headquartered in Gainesville is born and a capital campaign is launched to raise the funds for the care center.

1994
HNCF opens an office in Trenton.

1996
Four years later, thanks to the generosity and support from the communities served, the hospice care center with 18 patient rooms opens its doors in Gainesville.

1997
Dr. Robert McCollough is named Medical Director, becoming the first full-time physician at HNCF.

1999
HNCF opens the first Attic resale store on 6th Street in Gainesville.

2000
Tim Bowen, MSW, is named Executive Director of Hospice of North Central Florida.

HNCF receives the Certificate of Need to expand its service area to include Duval, Clay, Baker, Nassau and St. John's counties.

2001
HNCF's outlying offices undergo name changes to better reflect their regional locales: Hospice of the Lakes in Palatka, Hospice of the Tri-Counties in Chiefland, Hospice of Jacksonville, Hospice of North Central Florida in Gainesville and Hospice of the Suwannee Valley.

The Gainesville hospice care center is named the E.T. York Hospice Care Center.

Horizon Health Services, a home medical equipment company, becomes part of HNCF.

The Haven Hospice Attic Resale Store opens in Lake City.

Tim Bowen is named President of Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc., the state hospice association.

2002
Hospice of Jacksonville officially begins providing care. HNCF is awarded CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program) certification.

The need for a second freestanding hospice care center to serve the Palatka area is identified. A new administrative building opens in Palatka, and a capital campaign is launched to construct the 12-bed hospice care center.

The HNCF pediatric program called Pegasus begins to serve seriously ill children and their families.

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) launches the annual Charity Bass Tournament that benefits Haven Hospice and the Roberts care center in Palatka.

Tim Bowen is again named President of Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc., the state hospice association.

2003
HNCF receives the Certificate of Need to construct inpatient care centers in Chiefland and in Palatka.

A capital campaign is launched to renovate an assisted living facility in Chiefland into a 16-bed freestanding inpatient care center.

2004
HNCF celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The Roberts Hospice Care Center opens in Palatka.

The Tri-Counties Hospice Care Center and administrative building open in Chiefland.

HNCF launches the Haven Hospice Palliative Massage Therapy program.

HNCF partners with Grahamstown Hospice, located in Grahamstown, South Africa, as part of an international program to support hospice programs in sub-Saharan Africa as part of the Foundation for Hospices in South Africa (FHSSA).

HNCF is voted Non-Profit Business of the Year by the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce.

2005
HNCF receives the Certificate of Need to construct an inpatient hospice care center to serve the Suwannee Valley service area, launching a $3 million fundraising drive for the 16-bed hospice care center in Lake City.

HNCF establishes a hospice inpatient unit at River Garden Hebrew Home/Wolfson Health & Aging Center in Jacksonville, an award-winning not-for-profit skilled nursing center that has served the community since 1946.

In October, HNCF changes its name to Haven Hospice, unifying all its offices under one identity.

Haven Hospice implements Organizational Service Promises to better serve patients, families and referral sources.

Haven Hospice launches ViVA!—A Bayou Bash as the organization’s annual signature fundraising event.

2006
The Haven Hospice Attic Resale store moves to a new building at 300 NW 8th Ave., expanding its retail space to 10,000 square feet. The building’s renovation earns Haven Hospice an award from the Keep Alachua Beautiful organization.

The Florida Public Relations Association gives Haven Hospice an Award of Distinction for the Haven Hospice Attic Store relocation grand opening.

Haven Hospice is one of eight organizations to earn the Aging With Dignity Florida Pacesetter Award for taking a leading role in promoting living wills and advance directives.

The organization also receives a $50,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation’s Health Care Disparities Project to address racial and ethnic disparities in access to hospice and palliative care.

Haven Hospice is selected as one of two hospices nationwide to receive the Rural Hospice Demonstration Grant by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Judy Boles, Portia Taylor and Laura Carmichael are appointed directors emertis for their years of dedication and service on the Haven Hospice Board of Directors.

2007
Haven Hospice opens the 16-bed Suwannee Valley Hospice Care Center in Lake City to better serve the residents of Suwannee, Hamilton, Columbia, Baker, Union and Lafayette counties.

Haven Hospice establishes Fall at the Farm/Lodge as the signature fundraising event in the Tri-Counties area.

Haven Hospice is one of eight health-care organizations nationwide to receive a 2007 Circle of Life Award® Citation of Honor in recognition of its “Commitment to Caring.” This honor in the field of end-of-life care recognizes commitment, expertise and innovation in end-of-life and palliative care.

The organization earns the 2007 American Society on Aging Pfizer Healthcare and Aging Award in recognition of the Haven Transitions program and its innovation and quality in healthcare services for the aged.

Haven Hospice receives accreditation by the National Institute for Jewish Hospice.

Haven Hospice is recognized by the Greater Chiefland Chamber of Commerce as the 2007 Business of the Year.

The Palatka Elks Club BPOE No. 1232 recognizes Haven Hospice with its 2007 Civic Betterment Award.

2008
Haven Hospice is one of three health care organizations—and the only hospice nationwide—to receive the 2008 Circle of Life Award®. The highest honor in the field of end-of-life and palliative care, it recognizes excellence and innovation. The American Hospital Association has joined with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, the American Medical Association and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) to sponsor this award with funding through grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Haven Hospice opens a new office in St. Augustine to serve patients and families in the coastal area.

Haven Hospice receives a Certificate of Need from the state to serve patients and families in Volusia and Flagler counties, expanding Haven’s service area from 16 to 18 counties. The new office based in DeLand opens in December.

Haven launches SASHA’s Friends, a new community program to help children who are dealing with anticipatory grief.

Dr. Robert McCollough retires from Haven Hospice.

Tim Bowen is named President of Haven Hospice.

The Haven Hospice Attic Resale Store in Lake City moves to a new location in the Gateway Center.

2009
Haven Hospice kicks off its 30th anniversary.

The Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce names Haven Hospice the 2008 Civic Organization of the Year.

Haven Hospice is named one of the 2008 Top Twenty-Five Companies That Care by Jacksonville Magazine.