Even during a public health emergency, hospice and palliative care professionals rise to the challenge of providing compassionate, person-centered care in the community. Community Hospice, Inc. in California shares how their team has adapted to a virtual environment while still putting patients and families first.
Although the delivery of programs and services looks a little different, the focus of providing community-based palliative and hospice care to patients and families wherever they call home remains the same. To ensure the health and safety of both staff, patients and families, additional safety precautions, personal protective equipment and education has been implemented when providing care out in the community. Palliative and hospice staff continue to address the physical, emotional and spiritual care needs of patients and their families, all while addressing the everchanging uncertainty and fear of the public health crisis.
“The pandemic has required our organization to think outside the box,” said C. DeSha McLeod, Community Hospice President/CEO. “Now more than ever, we are committed to providing the vital resources our community members need to help ease their fears and provide comfort. Our staff and volunteers have truly been inspirational and have embraced this challenging time as an opportunity for creativity and change.”
Many services and programs have evolved by utilizing virtual platforms. Not only are clinical staff able to meet with patients virtually, grief support staff continue to provide individual and group grief support sessions through virtual platforms, allowing clients to participate from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
Community Hospice’s Speakers Bureau and educational programs have also moved to virtual platforms, engaging patients, families and community participants through creative videos, lunch and learns and lecture as they gain insight and valuable resources on wide variety of topics. Positive Vibes, a new video series created by volunteers, launched in April and is released each Friday morning on the Community Hospice website, YouTube channel and Facebook page @CommunityHospiceCV. The video series shares fun and easy to create activities and encouraging messages for the entire family. Other virtual programs and events offered include a Candlelight Vigil honoring hospice and partnering frontline health care heroes and those affected by COVID-19, our annual Clergy Forum, Stronger Together campaign, Coping with the Holidays, fundraising events and more.
Community Hospice’s Speakers Bureau and educational programs have also moved to virtual platforms, engaging patients, families and community participants through creative videos, lunch and learns and lecture as they gain insight and valuable resources on wide variety of topics. Positive Vibes, a new video series created by volunteers, launched in April and is released each Friday morning on the Community Hospice website, YouTube channel and Facebook page @CommunityHospiceCV. The video series shares fun and easy to create activities and encouraging messages for the entire family. Other virtual programs and events offered include a Candlelight Vigil honoring hospice and partnering frontline health care heroes and those affected by COVID-19, our annual Clergy Forum, Stronger Together campaign, Coping with the Holidays, fundraising events and more.
If you would like to share the creative ways your hospice and palliative care team is caring for patients amid the COVID-19 crisis, please send us your photos and stories so you can be featured in the #hapcFacesOfCaring campaign.
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