West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
Lynnea Valpatic
Lynnea Valpatic is a licensed clinical social worker for the West Palm Beach VA Medical Centers hospice inpatient unit. She also serves as the Bereavement Coordinator for the hospice program. She started at the VA this past June. Lynnea has worked with hospice for the past 10 years doing both patient care and grief counseling. Lynnea finds hospice to be the most rewarding work she has ever done and is honored to be with veterans and their family members at the most precious yet difficult time in their lives. Along with assisting veterans and their families with end of life issues, Lynnea also provides bereavement care to hospice families for up to one year after their loved one dies. Before working with hospice, Lynnea worked in mental health and addictions. She is originally from Indiana and graduated with a Masters in Social Work from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1995. Lynnea is a Certified Addictions Professional and recently received the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Work accreditation.
Maura F. Miller, PhD, ARNP, BC
Dr. Maura F. Miller is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner currently serving as the Coordinator, Hospice and Palliative Care Programs at the West Palm Best VA Medical Center. She has practiced as a Board Certified Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and Adult Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist since 1984. She obtained her Advanced Nurse Practitioner degree and Doctorate from the University of Miami. In 1981, she began her VA career at the Miami VA and has served as a member of the West Palm Beach VA since 1994. Dr. Miller continues to serve as adjunct faculty and gerontological nursing consultant to the Florida community in addition to her VA service.
In 2006, Dr. Miller was selected to develop a Hospice and Palliative Care Program as part of the Medical Centers strategic goals and national VA policy and directives. The current program provides end of life care to include the entire spectrum of VA healthcare i.e. a Palliative Care Consultation Team, inpatient services, outpatient services. Since 2008, Dr. Miller has Co-Chaired the South Florida Hospice-Veteran Partnership (SFHVP) that has involved community agencies and veteran stakeholders in helping the VA obtain its vision to improve the access and quality of end of life care for veterans.
