Overview and History
What is now known as Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island was established in 1976 thanks to a volunteer planning committee of healthcare professionals and community members who cared deeply about providing stronger end-of-life care in Rhode Island.
Since then, HHCRI has grown into an organization with 225 employees and a $22-million annual operating budget that is supported by $1.5 million in donations. HHCRI cares for about 2,700 patients a year, thanks to help from hundreds of volunteers.
Some of our milestones
The concept of hospice was brought to Rhode Island by the Rev. Kenneth Wentzel, of Kingston, after he visited St. Christopher's Hospice in London, which was established 1967 by England’s Dr. Cicely Saunders.
March 1976 - Hospice Care of Rhode Island (HCRI) incorporates as a nonprofit corporation.
March 1978 - Summit Medical Center, a skilled nursing facility, on North Main Street, in Providence, offers HCRI 2 to 4 beds on its third floor.
July 1978 - Robert J. Canny is hired as the first Executive Director. His office is located at the Summit Medical Center. He brings to Rhode Island his experience as a trustee of the country's first hospice in New Haven, Connecticut. The volunteer program is in place under the direction of Esther D'Orsi.
March 1979 - HCRI's first home care patient/family is admitted.
September 1, 1980 - HCRI moves to 1400 Pawtucket Ave., the basement of the First Baptist Church in Rumford.
1981 - Average daily number of patients is 10; there are 9 HCRI staff members.
1982 - Island Hospice in Newport and Hospice of Washington County in Narragansett, two independent hospice programs, are established by community volunteers.
September 1982 - Federal legislation mandates Medicare reimbursement for hospice services.
1983 - Average daily number of patients grows to 21 and staff increases to 19.
June 1983 - HCRI initiates and promotes successful passage of legislation by the Rhode Island General Assembly for licensing agencies and programs wishing to provide hospice services.
August 1983 - HCRI moves to 1240 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence.
December 1983 - Congress enacts national Medicare legislation to reimburse hospice services.
March 1984 - HCRI is notified it is the first agency certified by Medicare in New England as a hospice provider.
November 1989 - Hospice of Washington County and Island Hospice merge with HCRI to form a statewide agency.
June 1992 - Open house and dedication ceremonies of the new main offices of Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 169 George Street, Pawtucket, RI.
July 1993 - Hospice Care of Rhode Island establishes the first and only inpatient hospice unit in Rhode Island, a 10-bed facility, the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, in Providence.
September 1993 - First Annual Hospice Regatta is held on Narragansett Bay. Raises more than $34,000 for the agency.
December 1994 - The South Office of HCRI is dedicated in Wakefield, RI.
November 1999 - Hospice Care of Rhode Island receives accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations/JCAHO
November 1999 - Analee Wulfkuhle is named President & CEO of Hospice Care of Rhode Island
January 2001 - Hospice Care of Rhode Island develops a pain consultation service utilizing the expertise of registered nurse practitioners for nursing home patients.
Spring 2001 - Hospice Care of Rhode Island develops a specialized Long-Term Care Team to care for nursing home residents.
September 2002 - Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island experiences nearly 20% growth in services over the previous year, with average daily number of patients rising to 181.
March 2004 - HHCRI average daily number of patients reaches 291.
December 2004 - Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island receives accreditation from CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program), a respected leader in improving the quality of care in the home care and hospice industries.
August 2005 - The Alfred M. Roberts, Jr. Charitable Foundation Hospice Suites at The Westerly Hospital open.
February 2006 - Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island celebrates 30 years of Leading the Way in hospice and palliative care with a kick-off celebration at the RI State House.
June 2006 - HHCRI is awarded a United Way grant totaling over $119,000 for diversity outreach.
August 2006 - Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island purchases a new building at 1085 North Main Street Providence.
August 2006 - The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) selects HHCRI as a "best practices" example of palliative care initiatives nationwide.
November 2006 - Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island concludes its 30th Anniversary year-long celebration with The Stanley M. Aronson Educational Symposium featuring keynote speaker Dr. Nicholas Christakis, author of Death Foretold. The title of the symposium was "How Long Do I Have to Live" Why Prognostic Questions Trouble Doctors." Held at The Radisson Hotel in Warwick, the program attracted over 200 healthcare professionals and lay people.
January 2007 - HHCRI commits to making 1085 North Main Street, a Green, LEED certified building.
February 2007 - HHCRI submits a Certificate of Need to RI Department of Health to build an extended hospice inpatient unit of 24 beds.
June 2007 - The Rhode Island Department of Health Services Council approves HHCRI's Certificate of Need for 24 inpatient beds.
July 2007 - HHCRI selects New England Construction Company to construct new facility at 1085 North Main Street.
August 2007 - Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island holds first Bereavement Camp for grieving children called Camp BraveHeart.
February 2008 - The Champlin Foundations awards HHCRI a $230,000 grant to purchase new computers to process admissions at the point of service.
April 2008 - Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island hosts 2nd Annual Educational Symposium featuring Stephen Conner, PhD from NHPCO.
May 2008 - HHCRI holds its annual Spring Celebration of Remembrance at Roger Williams Park Casino and the Towers at Narragansett.
June 2008 - The Philanthropy Department holds Pawtucket Red Sox Night for Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island to raise money.
August 2008 - Diana Franchitto, VP of Marketing and Philanthropy is appointed Acting President & CEO
August 2008 - Ground breaking at 1085 takes place; demolition in progress
August 2008 - HHCRI holds its 2nd Annual Camp BraveHeart with 80 children registered.
November 2008 - Diana Franchitto is named President & CEO of Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island.
May 2009 - Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island holds its Grand Opening Celebrations at its new faciltiy at 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI.
June 2009 - Patients and staff move into 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI. |