11/19/12 — Ozark, Mo. – November 19, 2012 – Watkinsville resident Joe Turnell, a long-time volunteer with St. Mary’s Hospice Services, was recently named a finalist for the 2012 Compassionfirst Award, presented by HEALTHCAREfirst, a pioneer of web-based software and services for home care.

HEALTHCAREfirst announced that the award was won by Selina Quandahl, a home health care nurse in Decorah, Iowa, and Myra Clark, clinical manager for a hospice and palliative care program in Columbus, Ohio. Along with Turnell, the other finalist was James Vearil, an occupational therapist with a home health program in Charleston, S.C. Turnell was the only volunteer recognized.

Turnell was nominated by St. Mary’s hospice volunteer coordinator Patsy Massey, whose nomination letter highlighted his service to a fellow veteran who was struggling to come to peace with his wartime experiences. Massey also noted Turnell’s role in helping to create Camp Nokose, St. Mary’s bereavement camp for children, and his dedication to his patients when health issues forced him to take some time off from his regular visits. Turnell also volunteers as a mentor with the Clarke County School District.

The Compassionfirst Award is presented to the home health or hospice caregiver who goes above and beyond what is required and regularly shows genuine kindness, dedication and compassion when caring for others. HEALTHCAREfirst has highlighted the stories of both the winners and finalists on its website, www.healthcarefirst.com.

Award recipients each receive a $500 cash prize as well as recognition by HEALTHCAREfirst at the 2012 National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) Annual Meeting and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Clinical Team Conference.

About HEALTHCAREfirst
HEALTHCAREfirst provides leading-edge technologies that improve business and clinical functions to over 1,200 home health care and hospice agencies across the United States. HEALTHCAREfirst was one of the first home health care software vendors to recognize the industry’s need for high quality software applications that are accessible over the internet. Based in Ozark, Mo and one of the fastest growing providers of its kind, the company provides clients with web-available agency management software, business intelligence analytics, electronic medical record software, revenue cycle management software, billing services and coding services that ensure technology is not a barrier to patient care, but a powerful tool. HEALTHCAREfirst allows caregivers to focus on patients instead of paperwork. For more information call 800.841.6095 or visit the company’s website at www.healthcarefirst.com.

About St. Mary’s Hospice Services
St. Mary’s Hospice Services provides care for individuals and families with life-limiting conditions. Founded in 1990, St. Mary’s Hospice provides a comprehensive approach to care through a team of volunteers and health care professionals including nurses, social workers, home health aides, pastoral counselors and physicians. Together, they work to meet the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional needs of the patient and family. St. Mary’s provides home hospice services across a 13-county region of Northeast Georgia and inpatient hospice care at its home-like Hospice House near Bogart.


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