Lifestyle


New Florida Licensure Requirements

Are you renewal ready? The Florida Department of Health has changed the license renewal process, and clinicians are now required to report continuing education (CE) and continuing medical education (CME) course completions prior to license renewal. To view licensing requirements by…

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FHPCA Announces 2015 Executive Committee Chairs

FHPCA is proud to announce the Executive Committee Committee Chairs for 2015. The Committee Chairs drive FHPCA’s strategic plan initiatives and work hard to ensure FHPCA’s mission to assure excellence and access to hospice care, and advocate for the needs…

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FHPCA Announces 2015 Officers

Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association (FHPCA) is pleased to announce position changes to its Board Leadership and Executive Committee for 2015. Susan de Cuba, MA, ACHE, President & CEO, Treasure Coast Hospice, served as FHPCA’s Internal Vice President before…

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Coping with Grief During the Holidays

Courtesy of HPH Hospice Picture this: Your mother has broken her arm and it’s time to make her traditional pecan pie for the holidays. It’s easy to see that it would be difficult for her to make the pie this…

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November is Hospice Month

November is Hospice & Palliative Care Month (read Governor Scott’s proclamation) and a great time to learn more about the wonderful services hospice and palliative care provides patients and families. What is hospice and palliative care?  Hospice and palliative care…

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IMPACT Bill Passes

(Alexandria, VA) – Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act), legislation which includes hospice integrity provisions that are backed by the hospice community. The National Hospice and…

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Medicare Part D: Confused Yet?

By Mery Lossada, MD Chief Medical Officer, Hospice of Marion County On July 18, 2014, Medicare replaced a policy it had put into place just four months previous. The policy it drew up in March threw hospices and their patients…

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CMS Announces Change in Part D

Medicare has announced significant changes in the hospice drug coverage rules, prompting cheers from many patient advocates within and beyond the hospice community. Many feared that the original changes would have had disastrous effects on quality of care by limiting…

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FHPCA’s Response to Huffington Post Article

The recent article, “How Dying Became a Multibillion-Dollar Industry” published by the Huffington Post, spoke on the increasing business of hospice care. This article attempted to prove that hospice is turning big business and quality of patient care is suffering…

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Hospice Coverage Explained

By Wendy Melton Abbott, Team Leader, Big Bend Hospice   As a hospice nurse, I often find that when families learn all that hospice care has to offer, they are both relieved and concerned: relieved that the comprehensive list of…

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2014 Awards of Excellence Winners

  Orlando, FL. – On May 22nd, in conjunction with the 29th Annual Forum “The Journey Continues: Elevating Clinical Practice to New Heights”, Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association (FHPCA) announced the 2014 winners of the annual Awards of Excellence…

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FHPCA Wins National Award

Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association (FHPCA) is pleased to announce that we won the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) 2014 Trailblazer Award for our “Congressional Advocacy Notebook” project. The Trailblazer Award recognizes state organizations demonstrating high levels…

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How Do We Care For Caregivers?

Being the primary caregiver for a loved one can be a rich, rewarding experience. It can also be hugely challenging and draining. While providing 24-hour care to individuals who cannot care for their own basic needs – eating, drinking, using…

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What is Palliative Care?

“What is Palliative Care?” Article provided by Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care   Mary is in her 70s and has chronic emphysema – but she is not terminal and does not qualify for hospice care. She has been to…

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FHPCA Announces 2014 Executive Committee

For over 30 years, FHPCA has worked toward the betterment of hospice through the commitment of our members and our Board Leadership. We are pleased to announce the new additions to our Board Leadership and Executive Committee.   “We feel…

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Tips for Managing the Holidays

The grief journey never looks or feels the same for those that have lost loved ones. Grieving patterns differ depending on the relationship, the passing, and the season in the surviving member’s life. No one can truly understand what a…

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The Hospice House Difference

The Hospice House Difference By Patricia Klein, Sr. Public Relations Specialist, Good Shepherd Hospice and Abby Vandegrift, Communications & Policy Coordinator, Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association   Judy Goll will always remember October 22, 2011. Even though doctors had…

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Support Hospice in a Visible Way

November is Hospice & Palliative Care Month and is not only a great time to recognize the excellent end-of-life care provided in Florida, but also an opportunity to support hospice programming through the purchase of the Specialty Hospice License Plate….

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Helping Caregivers Understand Wound Care

By  VNA of the Treasure Coast   For many caregivers, taking care of a loved one means much more than medication reminders and preparing meals. More arduous tasks such as wound care become part of the responsibilities of the caregiver….

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Volunteering Offers Many Benefits

by VNA of the Treasure Coast   Volunteering doesn’t just serve as a benefit to the community, it can also serve as a benefit to your health. Studies have shown that seniors who volunteer regularly increase their mental and physical…

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