Compass celebrates 40 years of hospice care

CENTREVILLE — Compass celebrates 40 years of hospice care, supportive care and grief support services throughout Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline Counties.

Since 1985, Compass has been allowing patients to spend their final months the way they choose, guiding loved ones after a life-limiting diagnosis, and showing individuals healthy ways to manage their grief. This year, we celebrate 40 years of providing hospice, supportive, and grief services across Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Here’s a look back at the history of Compass Regional Hospice:

In 1985, a community meeting at the public library led to the formation of Queen Anne’s Hospice Volunteers, Inc. Mildred Barnette, RN, was hired as the coordinator, training volunteers to support patients and families, as well as offer bereavement services. By December of that year, the first patient was served. In 1990, the organization received its general hospice license, and in 1991, Estate Treasures was founded to support hospice care through a resale shop run by volunteers. In 1994, the board of directors officially recognized Queen Anne’s Hospice Volunteers, Inc. as a full-service hospice program. That same year, the first children’s grief camp was held, helping young individuals cope with the loss of a loved one. In 1995, Queen Anne’s Hospice Volunteers, Inc. became Hospice of Queen Anne’s (HQA).

In 2006, hospice supporters and staff celebrated the groundbreaking of the Hospice Center in Centreville. That same year, Estate Treasures reached the milestone of $1 million in donations. In 2007, Heather Guerieri was appointed Executive Director. The following year, in 2008, the 6-bed Hospice Center opened in Centreville to provide dedicated patient care.
In 2014, Hospice of Queen Anne’s (HQA) officially became Compass Regional Hospice after receiving approval from the State of Maryland to be the sole hospice provider for Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Caroline counties. That same year, the organization rebranded its grief support program as the Hope & Healing Center. The following year, Compass reopened a 3-bed Caroline Hospice Home in Denton to provide dedicated patient care.

In 2016, the administration staff relocated to their own building in Centreville. By 2018, renovations to the grief center had begun, followed by the expansion of the hospice center the next year. By 2020, the renovations were complete, transforming the 6-bed facility into a 10-bed facility with more spacious areas for patients and guests to gather. The building was renamed the Barnette Center, in honor of Mildred Barnette, the founding executive director. The grief center was officially renamed the Hope and Healing Center, offering individual counseling, group sessions, and alternative therapies.

In 2020, Compass Regional Hospice rebranded as Compass to reflect its role as a provider of hospice, palliative care, and grief support services within the community. The following year, Estate Treasures, the upscale retail shop, was rebranded as Compass Closet.

In 2023, Compass launched its palliative care program, providing support to patients and their families in homes, nursing facilities, and assisted living communities to address chronic illnesses, upstream of hospice services. In 2024, Compass celebrated its 22nd annual Gala and marked the 35th year of Camp New Dawn, a grief retreat for children, teens, and families coping with the loss of a loved one. That same year, Compass partnered with UMMS Easton to establish the first hospice liaison position in collaboration with Talbot and Coastal Hospice, ensuring patients in need of hospice care receive timely information and services. The organization also achieved accreditation from the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP), transitioning from the Joint Commission, which had accredited Compass for decades.

Compass is an organization dedicated to providing compassionate care and support to those facing life-limiting diagnoses or loss. Our value is to enhance the community’s experience of serious illness and end-of-life care by promoting dignity and quality of life through respect, compassion, trust, and commitment.

As Compass celebrates this milestone, we reflect on the journey that brought us here and look forward to the next chapter with the same passion and dedication that have defined us for 40 years. We are deeply humbled by the trust and support of the families we’ve had the honor to serve.

This milestone is a testament to our dedicated team —past and present— whose unwavering commitment has made a profound difference in countless lives. Looking ahead, we remain committed in our mission to provide comfort, dignity, and peace to those who need it most. Here’s to 40 years of service and to the many lives we’ll continue to touch in the years to come.

For more information about Compass, call 443-262-4100 or visit compassregionalhospice.org.