Hospice of Washington County and Franklin Hospice Celebrate National Nurses Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Karen M. Giffin, Associate Chief Philanthropy and Marketing Officer
301.791.6360
kmgiffin@hospiceofwc.org
Hagerstown, MD, June 13, 2025—Hospice of Washington County and Franklin Hospice, affiliates of Gilchrist, recently celebrated National Nurses Week by honoring the vital role nurses play in hospice and palliative care.
“This year’s theme, ‘The Power of Nurses,’ is something we reflect on daily at Hospice of Washington County, Franklin Hospice, and Lifecare Health,” said Sara McKay, CEO of Hospice of Washington County and Franklin Hospice. “Nurses are essential to the day-to-day care and support of our patients, their families, and the broader community. They make a profound difference in every life they touch — always with compassion and care, for which we are deeply grateful.”
Hospice of Washington County and Franklin Hospice, affiliates of Gilchrist, recently presented five prestigious nursing awards during National Nurses Week. The recipients were from left to right - Joey Hemphill, Marlene Black, Kris Rowe, Tina Perkins and Marlee Flook.
As part of the celebration, five prestigious nursing awards were presented. Recipients were nominated and selected by their peers in recognition of their exceptional contributions to patient care:
Compassionate Care Award – Honoring extraordinary empathy and kindness in patient care.
Recipient: Marlene BlackExcellence in Symptom Management Award – Recognizing outstanding skill and in symptom management and patient education.
Recipient: Marlee FlookMentorship in Hospice Nursing Award – Celebrating nurses who exhibit exceptional leadership and positively influence their teams and organization.
Recipient: Kris RowePatient Advocacy Award – Awarded to nurses who go above and beyond in advocating for their patients’ needs and wishes.
Recipient: Joey HemphillTeamwork and Collaboration Award – Given to nurses who demonstrate outstanding interdisciplinary collaboration to improve patient outcomes.
Recipient: Tina Perkins
Hospice of Washington County and Franklin Hospice extend heartfelt congratulations to this year’s award recipients and express sincere appreciation to all nurses for their compassion, dedication, and commitment to excellence in care.
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About Hospice of Washington County
Established in 1980, Hospice of Washington County is the sole licensed hospice care provider within Washington County, Maryland. Dedicated to serving the community during its most vulnerable times, Hospice of Washington County offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to each patient's medical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Care is provided wherever patients call home, whether in private residences, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities. Hospice of Washington County also operates Doey's House, the county's only hospice inpatient unit. In September of 2024, Hospice of Washington County and Gilchrist announced an affiliation agreement and partnered the not-for-profit providers, two of Maryland’s oldest and most experienced hospice, serious illness, and grief and bereavement care organizations. More information is available at https://hospiceofwc.org/.
About Franklin Hospice
A community-based, not-for-profit provider, Franklin Hospice began serving the area in 2020—at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. An independent, Pennsylvania-licensed, mission-driven healthcare organization, Franklin Hospice benefits from its relationship with the nearby Hospice of Washington County in Hagerstown, Maryland. That means that Franklin Hospice not only has the advantage of being focused exclusively on serving Franklin County and surrounding areas but also can leverage the experience and clinical expertise of Hospice of Washington County, which has been providing great care to its own community for 45 years.