Skagit Hospice Foundation

“The organization's process to review form 990 - the hospice of the northwest foundation recognizes that the governance role of the board of trustees includes the annual review of form 990. Accordingly, the foundation maintains a policy requiring the board of trustees to review the form 990 prior to its filing on an annual basis.”

“Enforcement of conflicts policy - all board trustees must review the conflict of interests policy and complete and sign a form annually stating that he/she has no conflicts or disclosing potential conflicts - the governing body of the foundation will review any potential conflicts. If it is determined that conflicts of interest exist, the trustee will be required to resign from the board.”

“Compensation process for top officials - the foundation, through hospice of the northwest, contracts with skagit valley hospital to provide payroll and employee benefit services for the foundation staff. The employment processes used by skagit valley hospital thereby govern the executive director of the hospice of the northwest foundation. The hospital human resources department sets compensation based on market review and regional comparability data and annually updates rates of compensation for the foundation excutive director.”

“Enforcement of conflicts policy - all board trustees must review the conflict of interests policy and complete and sign a form annually stating that he/she has no conlficts or disclosing potential conflits - the governing body of the foundation will review any potential conflicts. If it is determined that conflicts of interest exist, the trustee will be required to resign from the board.”

“Enforcement of conflicts policy - all board trustees must review the conflict of interests policy and complete and sign a form annually stating that he/she has no conlficts or disclosing potential conflits - the governing body of the foundation will review any potential conflicts. If it is determined that conflicts of interest exist, the trustee will be required to resign from the board.”

“Compensation process for top officials - the foundation,through hospice of the northwest, contracts with skagit valley hospital to provide payroll and employee benefit services for the foundation staff. The employment process used by skagit valley hospital thereby govern the executive director of the hospcie of the northwest foundation. The hospital human resources department sets compensation based on market review and regional comparability data and annually updates rates of compensation for the foundation executive director.”

“Governing documents disclosure explanation - the 990, once approved by the finance comittee, is posted on the foundation's website.”

“Uncompensated care: basic hospice services are supported financially by most health insurance policies and medicare. However, there are many people in our community who are uninsured, have limited coverage, or a high deductible. In these situations, financial support is necessary so they too can experience a peaceful death with their family and friends by their side. The need for uncompensated care increased during the pandemic. The philosophy of the foundation is that every person should have access to quality care at the end of life and to live their final days with dignity and in comfort. No one should die alone or in pain.”

“Hospice volunteers provide companionship, friendhsip, and vigil to dying people. Due to the pandemic, volunteer services were forced to sharply scale back for health and safety precautions. Weekly tuck-in phone calls, library maintenance, limited bedside vigil, and pet peace of mind were some of the ways that the volunteers are able to support those with life-limiting conditions.”

“Grief counseling is available to anyone in our community coping with loss, regardless of their relationship with a hospice patient, at no cost to them. Hospice of the northwest offers bereavement care, counseling, support groups, an eight-week grief recovery program, mailings, and a resource library.”

“Often families with patients have costs that are not overed by other funding streams, including cremations costs of transportation. These costs are 100% donor funded.”