Evolving value-based payment models can promote system integration of palliative care, posing risks and opportunities for participating hospice providers. Hospices will need to be proactive in building relationships with payer networks to reap the full benefits of these programs. A growing number of hospices have been diversifying their services to engage patients further upstream and […]
Philadelphia-based Enclara Pharmacia recently expanded its Neighborhood Connections network with eight new pharmacy members in the key Miami and Jacksonville, Fla., markets. The names of those pharmacies are undisclosed. Enclara launched the Neighborhood ConnectionsTM Plus program launched last year, which builds on an actively managed group of more than 7,000 retail and institutional pharmacies working […]
The coronavirus pandemic took a heavy toll on communities across the country as many fell ill and lost loved ones to the deadly disease. Hospices reached deeper into their communities with collaborations to procure and provide resources amid heavy COVID-19 headwinds. To date, COVID-19 has claimed 595,301 lives since the outbreak first hit the United […]
About 89% of people in the United States have inadequate knowledge of palliative care. One key determinant was health care utilization. The more regular health care services a patient receives, the more likely they are to have some understanding of palliative care, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Among the […]
Hospice providers Agape Care and Embrace Hospice House have entered into agreements with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to use their inpatient facilities as medical needs shelters during weather emergencies or disasters. During a catastrophic event that requires residents to evacuate their homes, these providers’ inpatient facilities would temporarily house […]
As providers recognize a growing demand for pediatric hospice and palliative care, more are turning to methadone for those patients rather than more frequently used pain medications like morphine. Effective pain management, or the lack thereof, has a significant impact on a hospice’s family satisfaction scores, which are key considerations for potential payers and referral […]
Hospice and palliative care providers are increasingly using virtual reality (VR) to help reduce pain, anxiety and feelings of fear and isolation in patients with chronic conditions. More hospices have incorporated VR into patient care, with the pandemic driving innovative uses for technology. The Elizabeth Hospice began to use VR to reach isolated patients during […]
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed cracks in a fragmented U.S. health care system, leading hospice and other health care providers to pursue improvement. Refocusing attention on quality, care coordination and the patient’s experience during serious illness or the end of life must be a critical driver, according to BJ Miller, M.D., author, hospice and palliative care […]
Oregon-based Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics will close its hospice program this month due to staffing shortages. The organization indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated industry-wide workforce issues, leading to the decision to close. Many hospice providers have seen staff turnover rise during the pandemic, as have organizations in other health care settings. Slightly more […]
Race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status are the leading differentiating factors fueling disparities in hospice utilization. Data, and associated documentation, can help fuel policy to improve access for underserved populations nationwide. The nation’s population is growing more racially and ethnically diverse, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report from last year. From 2010 to 2019, the […]
