FHPCA Awards Grant to Explore Attitudes about Hospice in Hispanic Community


Tallahassee, FL – Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association announced the recipient of FHPCA’s research support grant, Opus Care of South Florida. This research project will seek to understand the key factors that influence end-of-life decisions in the Hispanic community including beliefs and cultural tendencies, insurance utilization, and referral rates by healthcare professionals. “We are proud to award this research grant to OpusCare of South Florida,” said Paul Ledford, President & CEO of Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association. “The changing demographics of the state present an opportunity for our hospice programs to provide compassionate and palliative care to patients from different walks of life. FHPCA is excited to invest in OpusCare’s research project and help change the perception of hospice care in the Hispanic community.”

 

Hispanics make up 23% of the population in Florida – with Miami-Dade and Broward counties as the epicenter of this community. The participation rate for this culture in hospice care has been historically low. OpusCare plans to identify the factors that lead to general underutilization and hesitancy toward hospice care by Hispanics, with the hopes of better meeting the needs of Hispanic patients and becoming a trusted partner in the community.

 

“We are very excited and grateful to the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association and the FHPCA Research & Development Committee, for awarding OpusCare of South Florida a grant on our Research Application,” said Dr. Ismael Roque-Velasco, President & Chief Executive Officer of OpusCare of South Florida. “The research topic will be “Hospice Education and Early Utilization Among Hispanics. The outcomes of this research will be a great benefit for achieving a better understanding among Hispanics of the criteria for program qualification, services provided, developing educational tools and understanding the expectations of patients and families concerning palliative and hospice care services. Again, we thank the Association for utilizing the research among our affiliates and for the innovative ways of approaching education and community outreach within the communities we serve.”

 

The results of the year-long research project will be included in a final report made available by July 2018.

 

FHPCA awards grants to support the research of member programs. The association encourages clinical or operational project submissions that will add to the body of knowledge for hospice and palliative care. To stay up to date on the next application cycle, please visit FHPCA’s website at www.floridahospices.org.

 

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About Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association:

Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association (FHPCA) is a not-for-profit, IRS Section 501(c)(3) organization representing hospice patients and families, hospice professionals and hospice providers. FHPCA strives to assure excellence in, and expand access to, hospice and palliative care, and advocates for the needs of those in the final stages of life.

 

About OpusCare of South Florida:

OpusCare of South Florida is a nonprofit organization serving the Miami Dade county community since 1991. They are dedicated to providing patients and their families excellence in palliative care and support services when faced with a terminal illness. OpusCare provides a customized individual program where “Dignity Care” is their number one priority.