Dr. Hanan Budeiri: ‘I know what I’m here for’

Frank Kourt

It’s rare that people really love their jobs, but rarer still are those who find the meaning of their lives through the work they do.

One such rarity is Dr. Hanan Budeiri, M.D., a Richmond internist who has found life’s meaning working with people who are terminally ill and those with chronic wounds.

Hanan serves as medical director of Hospice Care Plus, which includes the Compassionate Care Center, and works with the recently established Pattie A. Clay Wound Care Center in Richmond.

She is board certified in internal medicine and hospice and pallative care by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Hospice and Pallative Medicine and is in the process of being certified in wound management.

While they are both virtually full-time jobs, Hanan would not have it any other way. Asked about hobbies, Hanan said, “I feel that my work is my hobby. I really, really love what I do, and I feel this is what I was put on this earth for — what I was meant to do.”

Born in Austin, Texas, of Jordanian parents, Hanan went to medical school in Egypt and followed her parents after they retired to the United States. She did her U.S. residency in internal medicine in a hospital in New York City. She came to the bluegrass about 11 years ago after accepting a position at Central Baptist Hospital clinic in Richmond. She fell in love with the area and said she would never want to be anywhere else.

She and her husband of 25 years, Adam, live in Richmond.

During her internal medicine practice, she become involved in end-of-life issues and began working with Hospice Care Plus, helping to manage the needs of at-home patients facing terminal diagnoses and provide pallative care to prevent and relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for people facing serious, complex illnesses.

As part of her duties with Hospice Care Plus, she works at the Compassionate Care Center, a 13-patient residential facility opened in Richmond about a year ago. She also works with the Pattie A. Clay Wound Care Center in Richmond.

The Compassionate Care Center provides spacious home-like rooms for patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses who need in-patient services, complete with their own small outdoor patio. The facility takes Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance patients, but also will take patients with no insurance. No one is turned away because of inability to pay. The facility is supported by insurance and private payments, and also by contributions and donations by businesses, organizations and individuals. It serves people in Madison, Jackson, Clark, Lee, Rock Castle and Owsley counties.

Not all patients who come to the Compassionate Care Center end their lives there. Hanan said about 40 percent have their symptoms managed and are able to return home.

The Wound Care Center manages and works on healing chronic wounds that result from such conditions as diabetes.

“At the Wound Care Center, we take a multi-disciplinary approach. We bring in the patient’s primary physician, consultants and the resources of Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center to facilitate wound healing,” Hanan said.

She stressed that her work at the Wound Care Center is just as important as her work with hospice.

The Compassionate Care Center relies heavily on volunteers who undergo training before working there in various capacities. Anyone interested in volunteering can call 986-1500 or 626-9292 for further information.

Among the more interesting “staff members” at the Compassionate Care Center is Annie The Dog, a golden retriever who is specially trained to work with patients and who dutifully visits with those patients and bring them comfort.

“Annie is the darling of both the staff and the patients. She works with the patients, and frequently grieves when one of them passes away,” Hanan said about the dog.

Because the mission of The Compassionate Care Center is to provide terminally ill patients with symptom management while allowing them to maintain their personal dignity, their beloved pets are welcome to visit, along with other family members.

While many of us are fortunate just to be able to tolerate our jobs, Dr. Hanan Budeiri not only loves her job, but feels it is her mission on Earth.

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