The Oregon Hospice Association Board of Directors has announced the selection of a new CEO to lead the state-wide non-profit agency. Barbara Hansen, MA, RN, CWON, Director of Hospice and Home Health at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice (Albany) and Good Samaritan Region Medical Center (Corvallis) will begin her tenure with the Oregon Hospice Association in mid-July. She will also serve as the Executive Director of the Washington State Hospice & Palliative Care Organization under a services agreement with the Oregon Hospice Association.
Hansen has over 20 years with the Samaritan system where she has lead the Hospice, Home Health, Palliative Care and Evergreen Hospice House operations. She is a wound/ostomy nurse and was a surveyor for the Joint Commission on the Accreditation for Healthcare. Hansen has participated in various Oregon Hospice Association initiatives and task forces. She was the 2014 recipient of the organization’s Elizabeth Wessinger Award which honors excellence in hospice and palliative care.
Hansen received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from OHSU and her Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at Oregon State University with a major in Gerontology and minors in Public Health and Adult Health Education.
Richard T. Skyba, Board Chair for the Oregon Hospice Association from FJA-US, said, “Barbara is an experienced and well-respected leader. She possesses the leadership skills to continue to build our organization and to fulfill our mission to ensure Oregonians have access to high quality end of life care.”
Hansen succeeds Deborah Whiting Jaques as CEO and Executive Director of the two state endeavor. Jaques, who has lead the Oregon Hospice Association since 2008, is retiring. Jaques said, “I am thrilled to have Barb at the helm. I love and will miss this work, but know that all is well in Barb’s able hands. “
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The Oregon Hospice Association is a state-wide public benefit organization committed to improving the quality of life for Oregonians at the end of life and supporting the hospice and palliative care organizations that provide care. The Oregon Hospice Association’s services include public and professional education, advocacy, research, consultation, accreditation and leadership.
