Technology has played a vital role in sustaining hospice care during the ongoing national state of emergency. Federal agencies have increasingly allowed for temporarily expanded telehealth use, and hospice providers are anticipating a new normal for delivering patient care as the pandemic begins to peak in some areas across the country. With the U.S. Centers […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on hospice providers, including a heavy impact on its workforce. Many staff are experiencing physical and mental health challenges while continuing to deliver care to patients at highest risk. Hospices nationwide are finding new and encouraging ways to help boost morale and keep their workforce thriving amid […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic strains hospice supply lines, providers are finding innovative ways to obtain essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and prevent risk of infection. Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (CVHHH) found a cost-effective solution to protect staff and patients by employing 3D printers to produce reusable face shields. What began as a hobby […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, hospices are honing their screening procedures to protect staff as they visit patients’ homes. However, many challenges resulting from the pandemic’s pitfalls have placed a strain on providers as they work to protect patients and their workforce. Many hospices geared up their prevention measures at the pandemic’s onset. Hospices bolstered […]
TRU Community Care is among several hospice providers across the country to employ new machine learning tools to deliver home-based care, overcoming challenges such as cost, implementation and patient reception. Though integrating additional technologies has become a new priority for hospices during the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospice providers were already leveraging technologies such as data analytics, […]
The COVID-19 pandemic is straining every corner of the health care system, and pharmacies are no exception. Consequently, some hospice providers and patients are experiencing difficulty accessing some essential medications. In some instances, the pandemic is exacerbating existing problems. Hospice providers around the country have been seeing ongoing shortages of general opioids, such as morphine […]
Working with other end-of-life care providers, such as death doulas, allows hospices to ensure patients receive additional nonmedical support during their final days. Launching in Minnesota, Inspired Journeys added to the growing trend towards natural death care in regions like the Midwest, engaging with hospices to bridge the gap between life and death. Hospices have […]
The COVID-19 crisis is reshaping routine interactions with referral sources as hospices strategize ways to manage those relationships in rapidly changing conditions. Even prior to the pandemic, developing stronger connections and communications with referral partners was a critical goal for most hospices. Providers consistently work to boost referrals and ensure smooth collaboration with partners. As […]
Infection control is at the heart of hospice and palliative care providers’ response to the COVID-19 crisis as these organizations care for some of the most vulnerable patient populations. While infection control is certainly not a new topic in health care settings, new questions are arising during the pandemic about best prevention practices to protect […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has hindered some of the hands-on patient care that hospices deliver. While some hospices were well-positioned to integrate and increase technology utilization into a wider scope of services, others have hit obstacles. When the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced temporary waivers on requirements last month, expanding the allowable […]