NHPCO NewsLine Fall 2021 - 40

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those who impact the patient experience, while also
increasing education and awareness to better
understand cultural implications of every community
we serve. Asking the right questions and acting with
intention will address areas such as understanding
family dynamics, the patient's previous healthcare
experiences, and traditions and health beliefs.
One example of asking the right questions when
meeting with a new hospice patient would be, " Are
there any previous experiences with healthcare
providers that weigh upon you? Positively or
negatively? " This simple question can open the door
that leads to an insightful dialogue with the patient
and/or their family. By understanding what their
personal feelings are regarding previous engagement
with their providers, it positions us to incorporate the
positive behaviors into the patient's plan-of-care and
avoids the negative behaviors, thus ensuring that the
patient feels that their needs are valued and taken
into consideration beyond what's traditionally in their
medical records.
Sadly, there are often too many people who are in
pain and dying alone without the support that hospice
and palliative care can offer. There are opportunities
for us all to do better at collaborating with our teams
to address the needs of our patients. Empowering
our patients and communities through targeted
marketing and outreach will help those who
underutilize the Medicare hospice benefit to make
informed decisions about their care when facing a
prognosis of six months or less to live. Engaging the
community before these decisions need to be made
and when they're not in a state of crisis, also positions
individuals and their families to proactively consider
what is best for them.
To provide the highest quality care possible, we must
meet our patients and their families where they are,
with a respectful understanding of the background
and traditions of those we are serving. Efforts need
to be continued to market to specific segments and
further engage with community-based
organizations, faith-based groups, and other entities
that can not only stimulate the establishment of
hospice and palliative care programs in healthcare
settings in their communities but can also provide
support for dying people and their families.
Matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion are
significant topics of many news stories and research
in our industry. For instance a 2021 Industry Trends
Report by Axxess showed that more than 70% of
home-based care organizations indicated that they
would increase resources in 2021 for staff diversity,
equity and inclusion, with 91% of respondents from
larger organizations indicating that they are focused
on the issue and addressing it. Accepting the impact
this makes on the patient care experience and acting
to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion should be
top of mind and must be recognized as a best
practice throughout the continuum of care.
Nicole McCann-Davis serves as
the Associate Vice President of
Health Equity & Access at
Seasons Hospice & Palliative
Care-an AccentCare Company
and is Chair of the NHPCO
Diversity Advisory Council.
Earlier this year, NHPCO's Diversity Advisory Council released
the LGBTQ+ Resource Guide. The topics covered include LGBTQ+
healthcare disparities, serving LGBTQ+ patients in your
community, and strategies for reaching out to LGBTQ+
communities. Learn more on page 47.
40 Newsline / Fall 2021
https://engage.axxess.com/rs/437-WGW-363/images/2021_Trends_Report.pdf https://engage.axxess.com/rs/437-WGW-363/images/2021_Trends_Report.pdf
NHPCO NewsLine Fall 2021

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