Photo from Left: Suncoast Hospice Spiritual Care Coordinator Travis Green and Jewish Community Partnership Specialist Kelly Siegel attended the National Institute of Jewish Hospice conference in New Jersey to renew Suncoast Hospice’s Jewish Hospice Certification.

Clearwater – For the fourth consecutive year, Suncoast Hospice, a member of Empath Health, has renewed its Jewish Hospice certification through the National Institute of Jewish Hospice (NIJH). Kelly Siegel, Jewish community partnership specialist and Travis Greene, spiritual care coordinator, attended the yearly conference in New Jersey in November. Travis was chosen to attend this year due to his work at Menorah Manor serving Suncoast Hospice patients. Empath Health and its member programs are dedicated to the Jewish community members we serve.

The conference included training with annual topics on Jewish heritage, bioethics, and principles for death and dying. New topics discussed through the Jewish lens were cremation and physician-assisted suicide. NIJH remains committed to its Orthodox roots but educates all Jewish denominations.

As part of the certification requirements, Suncoast Hospice staff will receive training on the three main topics. For further information about Suncoast Hospice’s Jewish hospice programs, please contact Kelly Siegel at KellySiegel@EmpathHealth.org or (727) 735-8743.

About Suncoast Hospice

Suncoast Hospice is a nonprofit provider of compassionate hospice care and bereavement support services to Pinellas County patients and families nearing the final stages of life or grieving the deaths of loved ones. As an Empath Health member, we focus on bringing holistic comfort and dignity through our medical and integrative treatment, emotional and spiritual care and palliative and support services. Families and caregivers also are comforted with training, support and healing. Suncoast Hospice is accredited by The Joint Commission.

About Empath Health

Empath Health is a nonprofit integrated network of care that provides expert, life-changing health care to those with chronic and advanced illnesses. Empath Health includes hospice, home health and physician services, independent living assistance and daycare for seniors, HIV services and advance care planning. Contact Empath Health at (727) 467-7423 or EmpathHealth.org.