HEALTH CARE
INCLUSION: IT’S IN OUR ROOTS
Rafael J. Sciullo
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 121
Empath Health, through its myriad
organizations, has always focused
on providing care and access to
services for everyone – regardless of
race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender
expression, age, national origin, disability,
marital status, sexual orientation, military
status or ability to pay.
We value diversity in all of our programs
and services, as it strengthens our
community and our care. We embrace the
diversity of cultures, thoughts, beliefs and
traditions of our employees, volunteers
and people we are honored to serve across
our network. Our diverse staff reflects our
community and each day, we work to be
respectful, sensitive and competent with
each other and those in our care.
In the 1980s and 1990s when HIV/
AIDS began to ravage the LGBTQ
community, Suncoast Hospice cared for
many individuals who were turned away
or shunned by others in the healthcare
field. For the past 35 years, through various
organizations that have since combined
to create what is now Empath Partners in
Care (EPIC), we have provided services,
education and support to those impacted
by HIV. These services include testing,
prevention education, case management,
medication management and pharmacy
services, support groups, housing
assistance and nutrition assistance.
Honoring and respecting the unique
cultural differences of those we care for
across our continuum is our ongoing
focus. Our award-winning “Traditions/
Tradiciones” program carries out specific
strategies that speak to each culture’s needs
and choices and increases the understanding
of and access to our care programs.
Spiritual care coordinators who work for
Suncoast Hospice are professional clergy,
specially trained to respect and honor
the diverse range of beliefs and cultural
traditions of those in our community and
for whom we care. They help people of all
faith backgrounds, including those who
don’t identify with a particular spiritual
group; and provide support in ways that
are entirely unique to the patient’s most
important values and morals.
Empath Health also recognizes that
the many veterans we serve often have
unique medical, social, spiritual and
emotional needs. Empath Honors is an
exclusive Empath Health program created
to serve our veterans with the respect and
honor they deserve. Interdisciplinary
teams work to understand each veteran’s
personal goals and through a variety of
veterans’ assistance programs, we help
the veteran achieve these goals. Empath
Honors services also include specially
trained veteran volunteers, military
service recognition ceremonies, We Honor
Veterans program, Veterans History Project
and Honor Flight®.
One of our most recent accomplishments
as an organization is the receipt of the
SAGECare Platinum Credential through
SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT
Elders), a national advocacy and services
organization providing training and
consulting on LGBT aging issues in order to
improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual
and transgender seniors. The Platinum
credential, the agency’s highest, is achieved
after 80% of organizational leadership and
staff receive in-depth competency training.
Our commitment to improving the
lives of LGBTQ elders is also evidenced
by our EPIC Generations program, which
was created to educate the community
and respond to the challenges facing
LGBTQ elders in Pinellas County. Many
of these elders are often invisible in
both “mainstream” communities and
their own LGBTQ communities. They
are less likely to receive family support
and assistance in meeting their financial,
health and housing needs. And they more
often experience significant physical and
mental disparities compared to their nonminority
counterparts. EPIC Generations
provides support services of visiting and
peer telephone reassurance, LGBTQ elder
social activities, and LGBTQ cultural
competency training for aging providers
and community groups about unique
needs of LGBTQ seniors.
It is mission-critical to our organization
that we serve the entire community with
the same life-changing compassionate,
expert care and support for which we are
known. Inclusion is not something we
“do” – it’s who we are. It’s in our roots. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is president
and CEO of Empath Health, a nonprofit in
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
/EmpathHealth.org