As a board member of Hospice and Palliative Care of Marthas’s Vineyard, I would like to thank the Gazette editors for presenting such a comprehensive overview of our activities. I would also like to applaud the efforts of Cathy Wozniak, Chantale Patterson and all the hospice staff in securing Medicare certification.

Sadly, we at hospice still hear of misconceptions as to what our (and the Island’s) future will be under Medicare certification. I would like my Island neighbors to know our services will be expanded not diminished. Our services to our community will be enriched.

As Cathy Wozniak said, some for-profit hospices serve only their investors and not necessarily their patients. That is not us. Our sole mission is to provide compassionate care to our Island’s families in times of need. All revenues go directly to providing care.

I would like to thank all who have contributed to our mission. As we expand our scope of services, I am sure we will have a more robust institution.

Robert C.Sarno, M.D.

Edgartown

The writer is vice president ofHospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard