JPM Releases Special Issue Focused on End-of-Life Care in the African American Community

We encourage those who are interested in learning more about end-of-life care in the African American community, to view and download the Journal of Palliative Medicine special issue, “Palliative and End-of-Life Care for African Americans.” The issue is available for free on the website until March 9, 2016.  

The issue commences with an editorial from Ronit Elk, PhD, “The First Step Is Recognizing, Acknowledging, and Respecting the Inequity, Disrespect, and Disregard Our African American Patients Have Experienced.”   One of the key points that Elk emphasizes, is the importance of religion and spirituality in the African American community. Throughout the issue, additional editorials, articles, brief reports and personal reflections mirror Elk’s emphasis on how faith should be included in advance care planning/end-of-life discussions. 

In the article, “What are Hospice Providers in the Carolinas Doing to Reach African Americans in Their Service Area?” Kimberly S. Johnson, Richard Payne, Maragatha N. Kuchibhatla, reviewed the tactics hospices in North and South Carolina use to increase access to hospice care in the African American community.  

Corey L. Kennard, founder and Pastor of KINGDOM equipping ministries, a Christian teaching fellowship, and the Kingdom Equipping Institute of Spiritual Development in Detroit, Michigan, authored the editorial “Undying Hope.”  In the piece he talks about a patient whose faith was the cornerstone of his life and who was very untrusting of physicians.  “George” finally saw a doctor at the age of 73 and it was then he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His distrust of physicians continued because his physician did not ask him about his faith or how it would shape his end-of-life journey.  This omission left him very disappointed.   

There are many great pieces in the JPM special issue. NHPCO continues to share African American outreach resources during Black History Month but we are committed to carrying the message that “hospice helps everyone,” beyond the month of February.  Pastor Corey, mentioned above, will teach one of the courses being offered by Morgan State University and NHPCO during a new collaboration between the two organizations. The partnership aims to educate caregivers and equip them with information to make informed decisions about end-of-life care. To read more about this partnership, view NHPCO’s press release.  

Amanda Bow
NHPCO Director, Strategic Communications
 

 

See how hospice helped Willie and her family enjoy more special moments at the Moments of Life: Made Possible by Hospice website.

Executive Business Summit: Going Beyond the Medicare Hospice Benefit

Delivering on the triple aim in healthcare through provision of palliative care is focus of annual Executive Business Summit.

Helping hospice and palliative care executives strategically plan for the future through community-based palliative care resources and services is the theme of the second annual Executive Business Summit hosted by Enclara Pharmacia and Turn-Key Health in partnership with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

The summit, “Positioning for the Future,” will feature an interactive panel discussion exclusively designed for hospice and palliative care leaders to explore evolving trends in healthcare policy, payment models, and collaboration between payers, health systems, and care providers.

The summit will be held Wednesday, April 20, 2016, 5:00pm to 6:30pm, the evening before the official opening of NHPCO’s annual Management and Leadership Conference (MLC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

Attendees will discover innovative ways to leverage existing palliative resources and staff to help foster organizational growth and build successful hospice and palliative care partnerships with payers and health systems.

“This summit will allow attendees to learn the value proposition of hospice and palliative care provision as it relates to cost and quality within the post-acute environment,” said Andy Horowitz, CEO of Enclara Pharmacia. “Ultimately, our goal in hosting the summit, is to better equip hospice and palliative care providers to improve patient care and control costs in patient populations with advanced illnesses.”

Nancy-Ann DeParle, founding partner of Consonance Capital Partners, and former deputy chief of staff for policy and director of the White House Office of Health Reform will serve as panel moderator.

Panel members are:  Jennifer Brokaw, MD, emergency physician and health care entrepreneur; J. Brian Cassel, PhD, palliative care research director, VCU School of Medicine; Torrie Fields, MPH, senior manager of advanced illness, Blue Shield of California; and Bruce Smith, MD, FACP, executive medical director, Cambia Palliative Care Services and Regence BlueShield.

This special event is offered free-of-charge to participants attending NHPCO's annual conference. The summit will be followed by a cocktail reception hosted by Enclara Pharmacia, Turn-Key Health, and NHPCO. 

Space for the Executive Business Summit is limited and registration for summit in addition to registration for the MLC is necessary. Potential attendees with questions can call NHPCO at 1-800-646-6460.

Special Education Offerings in Conjunction with April’s Management & Leadership Conference

A selection of preconference seminars and education sessions are made available prior to NHPCO's annual Management & Leadership Conference. Full day and half-day seminars are offered on April 19 & 20, 2016. 

NHPCO's Management and Leadership Conference will be hosted in National Harbor, Maryland (a suburb of Washington, DC) on April 21 - 23, 2016. In the two days prior to the MLC, a number of excellent professional development opportunities are available that address current topics of importance to the hospice and palliative care provider community.

Valuable sessions offered on April 20, include:

Building an Exceptional Physician/Executive Leadership Team
Hear from national hospice leaders on how to develop and strengthen relationships between physicians and executives. Learn why this relationship is so vital to a highly functioning hospice organization. Presented in collaboration between NHPCO and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

HIPAA Security Best Practices
HIPAA compliance audits are frequent and the paybacks related to violations are large. Learn about the most vulnerable HIPAA security risks and strategies for mitigation.

The Art of Influential Leadership
Influence is the #1 challenge identified by C-suite executives and considered a key skill for effective leadership, impacting the ideas, opinions and actions of others – is essential in today’s highly collaborative organizations.

Build Up Your Hospice’s Defenses: Breaking Down Key Trends in Recent Government False Claims Act and Whistleblowers Cases
False Claim Act cases often stem from whistleblowers that are incentivized by the potential for financial rewards to make allegations against hospices. Learn the types of allegations made against hospices, how they extend beyond eligibility to the anti-kickback statute and related issues such as compensation, relationships with referral sources and the failure to make repayments.

Mindfulness and Leadership Excellence
Multi-tasking, digital distractions and continuous partial attention are our norm. The practice of mindfulness – focusing in the present moment with an attitude of open awareness – can wire your brain for leadership excellence despite the chaos. 

Ethics for Hospice Managers
Beginning with an overview of ethical principles, this seminar will identify ethical elements in managerial dilemmas.

See the complete list of preconference seminars and educational offerings that are part of the 2016 MLC.

Online registration is open. 

Creating #MoreMoments for African American Families and Caregivers

To commemorate the contributions that African Americans have made to our nation, Carter G. Woodson, American historian, established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month.

This year's theme is Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories.  “The Association for the Study of African American Life & History has selected this annual theme to bring attention to the centennial celebration of the National Park Service and the more than twenty-five sites and the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom that is part of America’s hallowed grounds...”( http://asalh100.org). As we embark on Black History Month, we recognize that these historical landmarks are important in telling the stories of African American history and their memories.

This spring, NHPCO and Morgan State University will offer non-credit courses focused on educating caregivers to make informed decisions about end-of-life care.  NHPCO’s strategic plan includes expanding hospice and palliative care access to African American communities where a disparity of care exists. This collaboration between NHPCO and Morgan State University will help to move this important initiative forward.

The goal is that more African American patients, families and caregivers are able to have conversations, complete advance directives and become more informed decision-makers about end-of-life care.  By having these conversations before a crisis occurs, families are able to create lasting memories and #moremoments with their loved ones.

As a mom, sister, daughter, niece and past caregiver, I understand the importance of having conversations about these issues. I constantly remind my children of my wishes and talk to them about their wishes. I don’t want them to be afraid to talk about death.  Having that same conversation with my mom has not been so easy.  Although she understands that these conversations need to happen, she still has a hard time taking the next steps. Being from a large African American family, with tons of baby boomer aunties, uncles and cousins, I am excited about NHPCO’s collaboration with Morgan State University. I know that the courses will help African American families similar to my own family, have a better understanding of end-of-life care. This collaboration will create awareness, educate and encourage African American families in the Baltimore community to be their own advocates. Thus, creating #moremoments like Hannabelle and Deadra stories that are showcased in NHPCO’s “Moments of Life” public awareness campaign.

Morgan State University is a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) that is also known for its contributions to African-American history. As a HBCU, not only is its campus considered hallowed grounds but also, the city where it is located -- Baltimore. Founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute by the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the institution's original mission was to train young men in ministry. It subsequently broadened its mission to educate both men and women as teachers. In 1939, Morgan State became a public institution.

As for the city of Baltimore, it is home to many notable African American sites including, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, and The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum.

Cozzie King

NHPCO Senior Manager, Access Programs

www.nhpco.org/diversity

www.caringinfo.org

 

NHPCO’s Cozzie King, second from left, shares her thoughts on African American History Month and the disparity of hospice care in the African American community.

NHPCO Welcomes New Board Members

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization welcomes new individuals to the organization’s Board of Directors. These individuals officially join the board at NHPCO’s first board meeting of the year on January 27, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale.

Elected by the NHPCO membership to serve as National Directors for a three-year term are Darren Bertram of Infinity Hospice Care, Phoenix, Ariz. and Rafael Sciullo, Suncoast Hospice of Clearwater, Fla. Jan Jones, of The Elizabeth Hospice in Escondido, Calif., has been elected for a second term as a National Director.

Sally Aldrich, of Methodist Alliance Hospice in Collierville, Tenn, was elected as the board’s Southeast Geographic Area Representative. Linda Todd, of Hospice of Siouxland in Correctionville, Iowa, was reelected for a second term as the Central Plains Geographic Area Representative.

“We are fortunate to have board members who are not only experienced in running programs but dedicated to improving care at the end of life through the provision of and access to quality hospice and palliative care services,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of NHPCO.

Continuing in their roles as officers of the Board of Directors are Linda Rock, Chair; Jan Jones, Vice Chair; Sandy Kuhlman, Secretary; Michael McHale, Treasurer; and Ron Fried, Immediate Past Chair.

Additionally, NHPCO extends special thanks to the board members who concluded service in 2015: Samira Beckwith, Kate Cummings, and John Thoma.

“Board members come from programs that vary in size, serve urban and rural areas, and represent single-site and multi-state providers. We also have expertise from academic institutions and other nonprofit organizations. We all share a common goal to improve care at the end of life and to those joining the board, those currently serving, and those who have concluded service, I thank them,” Schumacher added.

JAMA Focuses on Care at End of Life

Hospice and palliative care professionals and advocates will be interested in the current edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, January 19, 2016, Vol 315, No. 3, that contains a collection of articles and research studies on care of the dying.

Contributing authors include Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, Atul Gawande, MD, Timothy E. Quill, MD, Joan Teno, MD, Alexi A. Wright, MD, and many others recognized in the field of medicine and end-of-life care.

One of the original articles being made available free of charge online and of interest to ehospice readers is "Comparison of Site of Death, Health Care Utilization, and Hospital Expenditures for Patients Dying With Cancer in 7 Developed Countries."  In the conclusion of this research article, study authors write, "Among patients older than 65 years who died with cancer in 7 developed countries in 2010, end-of-life care was more hospital-centric in Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, and Norway than in the Netherlands or the United States."

An infographic also available to the public is "When and Why People Die in the United States, 1990-2013."

In his editorial, "Quantity and Quality of Life," Dr. Gawande writes "The picture of care at the end of life that emerges is therefore disturbing. A widespread perception among both the medical profession and the public at large has been that seeking palliative care consultation or hospice services, or even just having advance planning discussions, amounts to “giving up” and is only relevant when people no longer have options for disease-based therapy. This view is incorrect and harmful."

Find the full listing of articles in this edition on the JAMA website.

Guide to Organizational Ethics in Hospice Care

NHPCO is pleased to announce a new resource for hospice programs and professionals being made free-of-charge for NHPCO members.

Written by members of the Ethics Advisory Council, the Guide to Organizational Ethics in Hospice Care presents four key concepts of the hospice philosophy of care. Seven organizational values are explained and applied to seven core operational domains, with examples of how the values can be integrated into policies and practices.

The intent is for organizations and individuals to use the framework and values in this document to inform development and implementation of organizational policies, procedures, and practices consistent with ethical standards, resonant with the hospice philosophy of care.

NHPCO Members may download the Guide to Organizational Ethics in Hospice Care from the NHPCO website (log-in is required).