State of the Heart Hospice Medical Director Achieves Hospice & Palliative Care Certification

State of the Heart staff in Greenville recently joined to honor Dr. Hosbach for his certification. Pictured left to right are: Amy Pearson, Deb Abernathy, Ryan Gathard, Mindy Stebbins, John Nunnally, Amy Rudy, Dr. Hosbach, Ted Bauer, Elaine Seger, Kim Livingston, Jennifer VanSkyock, Heather Bankson, Erin Meyer, Robin Cook and Sheri Fleming.

Dr. Edward Hosbach, Medical Director for State of the Heart Hospice, recently completed and successfully passed the added qualifications examination for certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians awarded the certification.

“The certification program in Hospice and Palliative Medicine by this board is a program for demonstration of excellence in the field,” said Carol A. Thoma, Executive Director of AOBFP. In a letter to Dr. Hosbach, she added, “We want to congratulate you on this significant accomplishment in your medical career.”

Ted Bauer, Executive Director, State of the Heart, said “This is a significant achievement for Dr. Hosbach and is testimony to his knowledge, commitment and dedication to the hospice philosophy and to State of the Heart Hospice. All of us at State of the Heart are proud of his recognition and certification.”

Dr. Hosbach, a resident of Coldwater, has had a Family Practice in Fort Recovery since 1989. He received his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Ohio University. He is a key part of the hospice interdisciplinary team and is responsible for overseeing the medical care, assessment of patient care and appropriateness of patients for hospice. He has been involved with State of the Heart since 1992 and was Assistant Medical Director with Medical Director Dr. Warren Pevnick, who has retired.

“Earning this certification is satisfying,” Dr. Hosbach said. “It reaffirms one’s years of experience and acknowledges a skill level in palliative care.” He added that he has a strong belief in the ”hospice philosophy of comfort care at the end of life.” He praised the State of the Heart staff “for their commitment, dedication and expertise they bring to caring for our patients. They serve as an inspiration to me.”

State of the Heart Hospice, with offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness. For more information about the agency and its services visit the web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.