Conklin joins Heritage Hospice

Heritage Hospice, Inc. is pleased to welcome Cortney Conklin MSN, APRN, NP-C to its palliative care team. Conklin began her career with Heritage Hospice on May 1

“I just want people to know they have options,” Conklin said. “And that sometimes patients have a better quality of life if we can get their symptoms under control instead of constantly trying to find a cure.”

Medicine has always been a passion of Conklin’s. She started her nursing career at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland in 2011. She then moved to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center,  working in the ICU department, where she was quickly promoted to charge nurse of the ICU in 2014.

Working with Heritage Hospice has long been a career goal for Conklin. After watching her grandfather, who had been diagnosed with hereditary emphysema, suffer through curative treatment options instead of symptom management, which is a key component of palliative care, she knew she could make a difference.

“People don’t want to have the hard conversations, because as doctors and medical providers we are trained to cure or fix someone. Palliative care offers an alternative approach and can improve the quality of life of the patient,” Conklin said.

Working alongside Delanna Clark, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-AG, Conklin is offering patients quality care right in their own homes. “Even on our patients’ best days they can still be admitted into the hospital. My goal is to keep them out of the hospital and for them to have as many good days at home as possible,” Conklin said.

For more information about Heritage Hospice and palliative care services, call (859) 236-2425.

Hensley receives landscaping award

Julie Hensley, owner of JHLA Design and former Director of Planning for Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, has been named recipient of the LaGasse Medal from the American Society of Landscape Architects in recognition of her contributions to the management and conservancy of natural resources and public landscapes.

Hensley served for 28 years as director of planning for Charleston County Parks and Rec in South Carolina.

Now the owner of her own firm, Hensley continues to provide pro bono services for parks and public landscapes.

Hensley is a 1981 graduate of Boyle County High School and a 1986 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture with a bachelor of science degree in architecture.

She is the daughter of Gary and Betty Hensley of Danville. She resides in Folly Beach, South Carolina with her husband, Allen Kinter.