Hospice by the Sea (HBTS) is a not-for-profit, community-based provider of hospice care, palliative care, caregiver support, bereavement counseling and home health agency services throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties in South Florida.
 
But, that is not what makes them a gold medal contender in the crowd of elite health care providers. Rather, it’s the fact that the core values of Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork and Accountability are personified in their employees which puts them in line for the gold! Employees like Tiffany Cohen, literally a double gold medal champion in swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics (400 m and 800 m freestyle) and a Triathlete, is a member of the HBTS Professional Relations team.
 
Prior to being drawn to hospice and helping people deal with their own mortality, Cohen began swimming with her eye on the gold at 8 years of age, She was national age group champion at 10 and started serious Olympic training by age 13. Cohen set the American record in her races and finished at the top of the field in several national and world championship races. She was recruited to the University of Texas where she added 5 NCAA national titles and Collegiate Swimmer of the year to her list of accomplishments. On top of this, she earned a BS in Psychology from San Diego State University.
 
Cohen described her own experiences with Hospice care. “As a young adult, I did not appreciate the hospice philosophy of care when my father was dying. I actually fought any acceptance of helping him die with dignity. However, as I matured and experienced my adopted mother’s hospice care, I realized that people desperately need to be educated as to the benefits of hospice care, and disavowed of the myths of end of life care,” she said.
 
Now, she travels throughout western Broward County calling on physicians and staff to provide education on the hospice philosophy and care and assists with patient referrals. She also works with the team to provide hospice education and referral assistance to the staff at hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, and promotes the programs of Hospice by the Sea, Inc. at community health fairs and events.
 
Since 2002 she’s also served as an Olympic values spokesperson. Cohen points to perseverance, discipline and good sportsmanship in sports and coaching as attitudes which helped her excel in Corporate America where, from 2006-2009, she earned Florida recognition with Cardinal Health as an Ambulatory Health sales representative.
 
“Currently, as a result of my Olympics training, I can connect with patients and families who want to be in control at the end of a life,” she explained.
 
Although HBTS provides a full palette of services, Tiffany finds rewards in educating, building relations and listening to the individual patient as a professional relations liaison. “These Olympic values allow me to help patients achieve acceptance, appreciate comfort and attain peace when at the end of a terminal diagnosis,” she explained.
 
At first, some may view this as an attitudinal oxymoron. Who thinks about happiness as we begin our wind down caused by a terminal illness? However according to Cohen, the psycho-social aspirations of new outlooks, even at the end of life, from palliative care, healing touch or spiritual therapy can help restore balance at the end of life and actually can bring people a peaceful relief from the reality of death.
 
She explained, “An Olympian teammate of mine passed of colon cancer at age 31. However, even as she faced a terminal diagnosis, she wrote in her journal that she wanted her legacy to be to fund future cancer research. I am now involved in Allison’s Friends of Hope Foundation, and over the past six years, we’ve raised more than $500,000 for her cause. I rely on her strength when connecting with patients and their families, and strive to do my part in ‘coaching’ them through the present and providing hope for the future.”
 
Possibly the only constant in life is that 100% of us will face death at some point. Cohen does her part to make it much less frightening by helping patients prepare in advance and take advantage of the resources available to them.
 
Hospice by the Sea, Inc. is fully licensed by the State of Florida, and certified by Medicare and Medicaid. They are also accredited by The Joint Commission, the national gold standard for the quality of care and safety of patients. Additionally, Hospice by the Sea, Inc. is certified by the Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis.