BJC Hospice volunteer nominated for Heart of Hospice award

by Cara Lotspeich
April 2017

BJC Hospice | Dave Barkey, who has volunteered with BJC Hospice for more than four years, was nominated for the MHPCA Heart of the Hospice patient care volunteer award. “Dave not only gives his time to patients and families through his visits, he also gives to them by volunteering to be a member of our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC),” says Eileen Spinner, Lumina coordinator.

The PFAC meets monthly and was created because the hospice experience is an individual journey for everyone. Family members who attend share their experiences, allowing BJC Hospice staff to hear how hospice supported them, as well as how hospice can continue to improve its services. 

Barkey volunteered to be part of the council because his wife died on hospice several years ago, and he wanted to give back by sharing his personal experiences. As a military veteran, Barkey wanted to make sure BJC Hospice continues to improve its services, specifically to help veteran patients and their families. 

Being a volunteer has provided Barkey with many experiences and patients’ perspectives, which has allowed him to offer meaningful insights as he attends committee meetings.

“Everything Dave has volunteered to do is from the heart,” says Spinner. “His presence in patients’ homes as well as on the PFAC has continued to help us improve our processes and better serve current and future patients.”