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…
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….
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….
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…
by VNA of the Treasure Coast When a loved one is diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, (COPD), there are certain things that you, as the caregiver, should know. It is important that you understand the various aspects…
by Joyce Baldrica, President and CEO of the VNA of the Treasure Coast and Nightingale Private Duty Nursing Do you, a loved one, or a neighbor feel unsafe at home due to a medical condition or age-related issues?…
On Friday, June 28, FHPCA submitted comments to CMS regarding the FY2014 proposed hospice wage index rule. The letter addressed four distinct sections of the proposed rule: Diagnosis reporting on hospice claims; use of nonspecific, symptom diagnoses; proposed updates to…
Joan Byrd grew up in a family of six. She and her siblings were raised to stay connected with one another no matter where they went. Each year, Joan would make the trek from Phoenix to Washington, DC to visit…
On May 23rd, Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association (FHPCA) announced the 2013 winners of the annual Awards of Excellence in Hospice and Palliative Care. The Awards of Excellence program was created to identify, recognize and showcase the outstanding…
An article published on The New York Times’ blog, New Old Age, explores the experience of caregivers of terminally-ill family members and loved ones. The essay examines not only the stresses that are present during the finals days of the…
This is a public forum, once your comment is online, everyone with Internet access can read it. Please make your comment clear to ensure that it is not misunderstood. You can express a strong opinion but please do so remembering…
FHPCA is grateful to our Patron members who help us provide great programming and events each year. The Patron Membership is designed for businesses engaged in the principal activities of hospice on the statewide level. This includes vendors of all…
