HEALTAHR TCARE
EMPATH HONORS VETERANS
WITH SERVICES FOR
BODY, MIND, SPIRIT
Rafael J. Sciullo
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 137
Millions of men and women
have nobly dedicated their
lives to military service
around the world. They
and their families have endured many
sacrifices. The Tampa Bay area is home to
one of the largest veteran populations in
the nation. At Empath Health, we believe
it is our duty and more importantly, our
honor, to help our community’s veterans
by providing extraordinary health care
and support that meets their needs.
The Empath Honors program
encompasses a variety of services to help
meet veterans’ medical, social, spiritual
and emotional needs. Veterans of all ages,
who have challenges at any stage of chronic
or advanced illness, can turn to Empath
Health and its integrated network of care.
Military service can be an integral part of
their identities and influence the kind of
care they may need. Our mission is to honor
their service, dignity and wishes, and help
them live more healthy, comfortable and
meaningful lives.
An example of our specialized care
is highlighted through our member
organization, Suncoast Hospice, which
is a Level IV Partner Hospice in the We
Honor Veterans, a program of the National
Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
in collaboration with the Department
of Veterans Affairs. We are currently
working toward Level V, the highest level
of achievement. We work together with
community organizations to ensure all
veterans receive not only excellent endof
life care and support for their families,
but to provide for their unique needs and
make sure they are properly honored for
their service.
Our care and support are centered on
the veterans’ choices and goals of care.
We aim to improve quality of life on all
levels in body, mind and spirit. Our teams
can care for veterans living with servicerelated
health conditions and disabilities,
including those who may be distressed
by traumatic service and combat-related
experiences. Families, too, may receive
emotional and spiritual support, help with
health care decision making and accessing
needed resources throughout their loved
ones’ journeys.
While We Honor Veterans is a hospicespecific
program, Empath Health believes
all veterans deserve the best care, support
and honor. Through Empath Honors, we
offer the following to all of our patients,
clients, participants and their families:
participating in the Veterans History
Project; Honor Flight; Veterans Serving
Veterans; and community pinning
ceremonies.
One of our special programs is our
Veterans Serving Veterans volunteers
who bring a common bond, comfort
and support to fellow military brothers
and sisters in our care and their families.
These volunteers band together to offer
companionship, present certificates of
appreciation, perform pinning ceremonies
and more. We have specially trained
volunteers and staff who interview and
record combat-era veterans’ military
stories that are preserved as part of the
Library of Congress’ Veterans History
Project. And our organization provides
assistance with flights, orientations and
at-home events for Honor Flight of West
Central Florida, which flies war era
veterans, free-of-charge, to Washington,
D.C. to visit their war memorials. A new
offering is Veterans Coffee Connections
where veterans can come together once a
month for support, friendship and to learn
about community resources.
We continue to expand our Empath
Honors program based on the veteran
community’s needs and while we are
focused on giving back to those who have
given so much, we know the specialized,
compassionate, expert care and support is
exactly what our veterans deserve. We are
honored to be part of each of their journeys.
Learn more about our upcoming
Vietnam Veterans Community Celebration
on March 29 and a Veterans History Project
Story Day on April 10 by visiting our
website. To find out more about our care,
make a referral or sign up as a Veterans
Serving Veterans volunteer, give us a call at
(727) 467-7423 or visit EmpathHealth.org. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is president
and CEO of Empath Health, a nonprofit
integrated network of care for those affected
by chronic or advanced illness. For more
information about services, call (727) 467-7423
or visit EmpathHealth.org.
By Rafael J. Sciullo