This year’s Forum attendees enjoyed a free copy of HospiScript’s Palliative Care Consultant Book. Now everyone can enjoy this comprehensive palliative care guide for 25% off the $69.99 ticket price. PURCHASE BOOK Use discount code 3H2XGAEZ – Discount expires…
Lifestyle
Orlando, FL. – On May 21st, in conjunction with the 30th Annual Forum “Painting the Picture: Messaging Metrics & Mission”, Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association (FHPCA) announced the 2015 winners of the annual Awards of Excellence in Hospice and…
In a continued effort bring valuable benefits to our members, FHPCA is excited to announce that we have installed to a new Job Board (www.floridahospices.org/jobs) on our website. This new FHPCA Job Board provides members more control over their listings,…
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…
By Avow It was a beautiful day in May when Jessica received the call informing her that her father had succumbed to a fatal heart attack. “Dad” was 77 and apparently suffering from undetected heart disease. The loss came as…
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…
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…
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…
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…
By Paul Ledford, President & CEO, FHPCA In 2010, Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association adopted a position in opposition to physician-assisted suicide. It is our commitment to the value of life and to the optimization of the quality of…
DEA Releases New Rules That Create Convenient But Safe and Secure Prescription Drug Disposal Options
This article is from the US Department of Justice + Drug Enforcement Administration On September 8th the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) Final Rule for the Disposal of Controlled Substances, which implements the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of…
(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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
Know a person or a program that deserves recognition? Nominate them for FHPCA’s Awards of Excellence! WHAT ARE THE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE? Excellence in the delivery of hospice and palliative care is the hallmark of hospice providers and professionals in…
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…
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…
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…
Television viewers are afforded a rare glimpse into the lives of hospice patients in the one-hour special program, “Hospice: Something More” premiering Thursday, November 7 at 9pm ET on RLTV. The program was produced by Hospice Foundation of America and…
News
Hear how Hospice Savannah saw improved satisfaction after personalizing patient touchpoints. In today’s fast-evolving hospice landscape, timely and effective patient communication is more critical than ever. This webinar will explore strategies to enhance patient and family engagement, streamline communication, and…
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The answer might appear simple, yet the reality is that most hospices are doing far too much at the time of admission. Often, years of tradition and hospice lore still drive the process. These inefficiencies may ultimately lead to a less competitive service model that can reduce referrals and the quality of care. Join us to learn how to streamline your process.
Join us for a review of the role of social workers, counselors, spiritual caregivers, and chaplains as per the regulations and within the IDG/IDT. These roles can add value to an agency’s quality reporting and the patient experience. You’ll learn ways to increasingly use these valuable team members because visits at critical times in the patient process can increase quality and reimbursement measures and agency opportunities.
Have you heard of the “service recovery paradox”? It is a dynamic that occurs when a patient or family thinks more highly of a program after a mistake has been adequately corrected than if no mistake had occurred at all. That means mistakes may present the opportunity to demonstrate a higher level of exceptionalism – but only if the response is swift and skillful.
However, the opposite is also true. When poorly handled, mistakes can lead to disastrous results. In end-of-life care, it is crucial that all team members understand how to provide skillful service recovery as individuals, as team members, and as representatives of the organization. This webinar will focus on teaching staff and volunteers to skillfully respond to common complaints. It will include sample protocols and skills training materials that can be used immediately.
The HOPE tool requirement, which is effective October 1, 2025, replaces the HIS and will capture more comprehensive, patient-specific data in addition to medical records.
This series will take a deep dive into the impact of the HOPE tool submission and acceptance of the HQRP requirements which directly impact claim payments, as well as the required timepoints, dataset items, and completion requirements. It will provide scenarios and guidance to ensure accuracy and compliance. This series is a must-attend for any hospice that wants to be fully prepared for timely implementation of the HOPE tool.
The 2025 hospice final rule included the anticipated HOPE tool. This session will outline the implementation date for the HOPE tool and how it differs from the Hospice Item Set. It will review the current tool, address the completion requirements, and explain the impact on the HQRP as new measures will be added resulting from clinical data collection on the HOPE.
Multidisciplinary care refers to utilizing multiple disciplines. Interdisciplinary care is something quite different, and the distinction is the only pathway to providing true excellence in end-of-life care. Are you clear about the difference? Are your team meetings interdisciplinary or are they primarily focused on the patient’s medical needs? This webinar will take an in-depth, comprehensive look at the actual heart of hospice – interdisciplinary team functioning across the board. It will also explore ways to improve team meetings without making them longer!
This session will provide clear guidance for completion of sections A, F, and I of the HOPE tool. It will address the importance of accurately capturing patient-specific data, including patient preferences related to CPR and other life-sustaining treatments, hospitalization, and spiritual/existential concerns. It will also cover the principal diagnosis, comorbidities, and coexisting conditions to guide and positively impact service delivery. Item-specific instructions will be provided along with tips to ensure accuracy.
Why spend one more dollar to make the phone ring more than it already does if you cannot convert the inquiries coming your way?
The front-end referral inquiry that starts a business relationship is the lifeblood of any organization, healthcare or not! This webinar will explain the progression of a referral inquiry to the admission process for hospice and homecare. Five key elements will be explored:
1. Knowing you are capturing all referral inquiries
2. Creating an intense sense of urgency
3. A well-developed eligibility process
4. A 90-day pending list and work process
5. Organizational commitment and wisdom
The hospice volunteer program is a core service, and surveyors are expecting to see volunteer programs in full swing again, post pandemic. Join us to learn about the role of the hospice volunteer director/manager, volunteers, and what activities meet the 5% requirement. The requirements of a Medicare hospice volunteer training program will be covered, and FAQs will reveal who can be a volunteer, what does and does not qualify for volunteer activities, and many other answers.
This session will provide clear guidance for completion of sections J (addressing the imminence of death, pain, dyspnea, symptom impact screenings, and follow up), M (wounds, ulcers, and treatment), N (opioid administration and bowel regimen), and Z (requirements of all agency-determined staff who may contribute to the completion of the HOPE tool and verification of completion and signatures). Item-specific instruction will be provided, along with tips to ensure accuracy and to guide and positively impact service delivery.
Hear how Hospice Savannah saw improved satisfaction after personalizing patient touchpoints.
In today's fast-evolving hospice landscape, timely and effective patient communication is more critical than ever. This webinar will explore strategies to enhance patient and family engagement, streamline communication, and accelerate access to care - all while addressing the ongoing challenges of limited resources and increasing demand.
Discover practical ways to improve responsiveness, ensure seamless coordination between teams, and provide exceptional care without overwhelming staff. Key topics include evolving patient needs, proactive family involvement in care decisions, and innovative approaches to caregiver support.
Join Dr. Benton as we uncover actionable strategies to improve communication, enhance care efficiency, and create a more sustainable and supportive environment for both patients and staff.
Employee turnover impacts all areas of operations, including staff morale, the ability to schedule current and future clients, and leadership time to interview and hire the best candidates. The cost of nursing turnover can be up to $75,000 for each new replacement, not counting the impact on current staff. So, what can an agency do to improve staff retention and ultimately reduce turnover? This webinar will identify the leading reasons for turnover and provide top strategies to improve staff retention and lower turnover without spending thousands of dollars.
Chaplains tend to be inherently exceptional at providing religious and spiritual support and often provide “a ministry of presence.” But do they know how to proceed when the situation calls for a skillful counseling response? What theoretical frameworks are evidence-based and a good fit for end-of-life care dynamics and challenging situations? This webinar will cover counseling frameworks, specific skillsets, defined interventions, and techniques that relate to the work of chaplains and spiritual counselors.
This five-part compliance series will conclude with a review of the bereavement requirements and counseling as a core hospice service. It will cover key regulations for bereavement care, including who is qualified to provide bereavement services and the use of volunteers. Program structure will be reviewed, including best practices for a bereavement program and care plans. This presentation will identify all areas where bereavement risk can be identified, discussed, and addressed throughout the course of hospice care and will answer bereavement FAQs.
