Search Hospice    Our PeopleCEO/President
Ms. Brown is the past Chair of the National Hospice Work Group, a “think tank” composed of leaders from around the U.S. considered to be among the most influential authorities on end-of-life care in this country. Presently, she serves on the Bluegrass Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board. In the recent past, the Governor of Kentucky appointed her to the KY Breast Cancer Task Force. Additionally, she is a member of the Board of the UK College of Public Health, External Advisory Council. Ms. Brown has received numerous awards from health and community groups for exemplary service. The Lane Report, a Kentucky business publication, selected her as one of Central Kentucky’s top women in business. Under her leadership, in 2001 the JCAHO survey awarded HOB a score of 100, a score given to only 3% of all healthcare organizations across the country. In 2002, HOB was presented the Circle of Life Award, an annual honor given by the American Hospital Association to three healthcare agencies from across the country that exhibit superior patient and community service. In 2003, Ms. Brown received the NHPCO Heart of Hospice Award, which is presented annually to someone in the hospice community who has shown remarkable commitment and vision in service to others. Also in 2003, the Palliative Care Center of the Bluegrass (PCCB), of which Ms. Brown is the President & CEO, received a three-year, $750,000 Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Grant, administered by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), to train other hospices and hospitals in the PCCB model of hospice/hospital collaboration. Over the years, Ms. Brown has made hundreds of presentations to thousands of participants who, if feedback is valid, have found her quick wit and warm personality a pleasure. Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Coté attended the University of San Diego for his undergraduate studies, St. Louis University School of Medicine, in St. Louis, Missouri and completed his post doctoral education at the Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. Hospice Physicians Todd Coté, MD Volunteer Medical AssociatesEach year more than 40 physicians provide more than 1,000 hours of time to help guide our staff in effective pain and symptom management. Interdisciplinary team meetings are overseen by volunteer Medical Associates. The dedication of these men and women makes it possible for Hospice to provide focused and detailed medical attention to our patients during team meetings. NursesNurses make regular visits to assess the patient's condition and communicate regularly with the patient's physician about appropriate continuing treatment. With the patient and family, the nurse creates a plan of care to manage symptoms that might be distressing or painful, allowing the patient to remain comfortable. The nurse also provides emotional support to the patient and family, and can teach family or friends how to care for the patient and manage painful symptoms Social WorkersProfessionally trained social workers are an integral part of the interdisciplinary hospice team. They are available to assist patients and their families. Social workers provide counseling, help families access resources in the community and are available to provide education on topics such as living wills. ChaplainsChaplains offer non-judgmental spiritual support through active listening and presence, exploring the patient’s faith while respecting the patient’s and family’s faith tradition. Chaplains facilitate conversations of hopes, fears, and reconciliation with others and the Divine. Hospice Chaplains work in conjunction with – or in the absence of - the family’s own spiritual care provider. Bereavement CounselorsBereavement Counselors help individuals work through feelings of grief. Hospice of the Bluegrass bereavement staff works with children, adults and families and are available in times of crisis. Both individual and group sessions are led by the bereavement staff, and individual counseling appointments are also available. Certified Nursing AssistantsCertified Nursing Assistants are available to assist Hospice of the Bluegrass patients. They offer bathing, shaving, shampooing, mouth care and other personal care. In addition, Certified Nursing Assistants perform light housekeeping tasks such as changing linens or light meal preparation. VolunteersVolunteers provide caring companionship to the terminally ill men, women and children – and their families – served by Hospice. Volunteers often participate in regular visiting and conversation, provide transportation, run errands, play card games or read with clients. Volunteers also provide an important presence to assure hospice patients do not feel abandoned by their community. 
Senior Management StaffGretchen Brown Todd Coté, MD
Amy Quinn Sue Snider Sherri Weisenfluh Croswell Chambers Carol Ruggles Holly Hodge Danita Ross Eugenia Smither Susan Swinford Susan Ware Having trouble reading this page? |
Gretchen Marcum Brown, MSW, has been the President and CEO of Hospice of the Bluegrass (HOB) since January 1982. Ms. Brown is a current member of the Board of Directors of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO); the Foundation for Hospices in Sub Saharan Africa (FHSSA); and the Kentucky Association of Hospices and Palliative Care (KAHPC). She has chaired numerous committees for both the NHPCO and the KAHPC, serves on the Executive Committee of each, and continues to work in differing capacities for the two organizations over and above her Board duties. Ms. Brown is the Chair of the NHPCO Board.
Dr. Todd Coté joined the Hospice of the Bluegrass staff in 2007. He is Board Certified in both Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Since 1990, he has worked as a medical leader for both for-profit and not-for profit hospice programs, including the Connecticut Hospice, (the first hospice in the United States) where he served as Chief Medical Officer. As a hospice leader, he has served on clinical faculty at Yale, the University of Connecticut and the University of Southern California. He has written numerous articles and has made presentations at international and national hospice and palliative care conferences as well as at medical and pharmacy conferences.