Despite the uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, advance care planning remains critical. With death tolls and confirmed cases rising, advance care planning is increasingly vital, particularly for high-risk patient populations receiving hospice and palliative care. Severe illness and possible death are among the risks posed by the novel coronavirus, according to the U.S. […]
As the COVID-19 spread continues with climbing death rates and confirmed cases, providers across the health care continuum are navigating the impact on patients and staff. With older adults and those with serious medical conditions at greatest risk, palliative care stands to play a significant role during the coronavirus outbreak. According to the U.S. Centers […]
Effective governance becomes even more critical to hospice providers during emergency situations. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, one of the many ripple effects is its impact on the role of hospice leadership. Even before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11, 2020, it was spreading […]
Even without the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric hospice patients and their families face a variety of end-of-life care needs that are unique from those of adult patients. Yet, youth-specific hospice patients are among those most underserved in the nation. Connecticut-based Regional Hospice is building the North Star inpatient wing to expand upon its children’s hospice […]
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) and Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice have signed a letter of intent signaling a merger. The non-binding letter starts the ball rolling towards the merger as the two organizations collaborate expand hospice and home- and community-based care in the region. Concord VNA is a palliative care, home health […]
Growing patient and family concerns about safety are among the many challenges the end-of-life care community is facing during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As hospice providers meet patient care needs during the outbreak, an added challenge is alleviating patient concerns about staff coming into the home. As the novel virus continues to spread, so do […]
With older adults suffering from chronic or life-limiting medical conditions among those most vulnerable during the COVID-19 outbreak, nursing homes across the country are restricting access to their facilities. As a result, hospice providers have experienced difficulty accessing their patients in nursing home settings. Nursing home populations are at the highest risk of being affected […]
Palliative care providers across the nation are working with state lawmakers to reshape and streamline policies that could increase awareness of and access to their services. The very nature of interconnected services involved in palliative care often poses accessibility challenges. Fewer than 5% of patients with serious illnesses who stand to benefit from palliative care […]
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to take shape, hospices are increasingly using telehealth services to limit physical contact with patients and practice social distancing. Strategies to implement this method of support to patients and their families are evolving during the worldwide health emergency. Hospices around the country are working to reduce risk of exposure to […]
St. Croix Hospice, based in St. Paul, Minn., further expanded its reach of services across the Midwest with a new location in LaCrosse, Wisc. The investment into the state’s hospice market has the potential to impact more than a million senior citizens living in that state. St. Croix is a portfolio company of the Chicago-based […]
