NewsLine - August 2011 - (Page 42)

Short Takes continued Hospice Outreach: Tailoring the Message to the Audience While access to hospice and palliative care among America’s minorities has increased over the years, improvements have been slow-going at best. According to NHPCO’s latest Facts and Figures, Caucasians still represent about 80 percent of patients served, while access among blacks and African Americans is 8.7 percent and access among Hispanics/ and Latinos is just 5.3 percent. For Montgomery Hospice, based in Rockville, MD, outreach to minority populations is a critical component of community outreach. Montgomery County has the most racially and ethnically mixed population of any county in Maryland and has more foreignborn residents of any jurisdiction in Maryland, Washington, DC, or Virginia, so it’s vitally important that the organization discusses what hospice care provides within the context of the patient’s and family’s cultural and religious beliefs. A good example of the organization’s work toward improving that understanding is a recent article in Hospice Matters, a quarterly newsletter resources to assist hospices in outreach to underserved communities. Among the free resources are Chinese-American, Latino, and African American outreach guides—all available as convenient PDFs that you can download directly from the site. HOSPICE M AT TERS Fall - 2010 s of Hospice Family and Friend A Newsletter for an, African Americ Robert A. Washington Why You, An by Hospice Care Should Choose is not decide hospice of your choices stand in the way we would never opportunity we offer is the if you and why the choice your care, even We know that of life. at this point. for a better quality what you want to want life ns are more inclined African America We will give nts at life’s end. is sacred Your trust prolonging treatme but we little knowledge Americans have k about your desires, Some African honest feedbac you desire to (in accordance the overwhelming your decisions of hospice; will always honor g hospice example, if own makes explorin and the law). For suppor t their with regulations Hospice we italized is what At Montgomery ated and re-hosp care unnecessary. being resuscit a supplement, ons of futility, that hospice is medical projecti want you to know you want, despite Other African to you. ive to family care. will remain available not an alternat have s then those options ans may you the benefit Americ discuss with We will always about the misconceptions of pain . For and side effects gift definition of hospice to trust is a sacred “We know that medication needed may think so we invite example, some distress that must be earned, relieve your place where s as we of hospice as a and concern your your questions but then follow die rather one goes to confidence.” if you work to gain your direction. It’s okay treatments than a host of sleep in a Ph.D., MDiv. choose not to the patient A. Washington, er Robert Services provided wherev of Counseling it is our and services Vice President hospital bed, but is all about to both you may think hospice Montgomery Hospice the advantages resides. Still others duty to explain personnel use must safely in fact, hospice care for you who morphine when, and those who m. se) to ensure to the bathroo nal and otherwi and help you are sacred many tools (medici reposition, lift Americans Your last days you call us in there are African transitional or cannot make view them as comfort. We know e; the is Additionally, we Whether you hold unique practice of medicin when your concern the the night , your last days who mistrust the middle of well known the final chapter y come when who love e Study is very we can certainl you and those infamous Tuskege heightened, but nt will be promise for both we know n on the to fear that treatme mery Hospice the very first questio 4) and contributes you call. At Montgo is why you. That is why continued on page ( e, which mery Hospice powerful medicin ent at Montgo that belief is a r spiritual assessm family membe and/or asks the patient life at this point. meaningful in what is most n will help us to this questio Your answer to opportunity you the best co-create with is to make met. Our goal have your desires and, thereby, table as possible you as comfor you choose. ability to live as maximize your sacred Your choices are Montgomery centered at We are patient direction and means we take Hospice, which responsibility from you. It is our get permission the information you receive all to ensure that d decisions about to make informe you need 1 which it distributes to members of the Montgomery County community. Written by vice president of counseling services, Robert Washington, PhD, MDiv, the article speaks directly to the African-American reader and addresses some of this minority population’s known concerns. “We know that African Americans are more inclined to want life prolonging treatments at life’s end,” writes Dr. Washington. “We will give you honest feedback about your desires, but we will always honor your decisions….” To read Dr. Washington’s article, visit the Montgomery Hospice website. NHPCO’s Caring Connections has also developed a range of Chinese-Ame OUT REA CH GUID E rican African Americ OUT REA CH GUID E an In collaboration with 42 NewsLine http://www.montgomeryhospice.org/pdfs/HospiceMattersFall10.pdf http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/outreach/Chinese_American_Outreach_Guide.pdf http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/outreach/Latino_Outreach_Guide.pdf http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/outreach/African_American_Outreach_Guide.pdf http://www.nhpco.org/files/public/Statistics_Research/Hospice_Facts_Figures_Oct-2010.pdf http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/outreach/Chinese_American_Outreach_Guide.pdf http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/outreach/African_American_Outreach_Guide.pdf http://www.montgomeryhospice.org/pdfs/HospiceMattersFall10.pdf http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3385

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NewsLine - August 2011

Marketing Hospice: Ethical Practices
A Message From Don
We Earned Our Merit Badge in Clinical Excellence (display ad)
Recruiting Problems? HMR (display ad)
Helping Children Grieve
ChiPPS: A Gold Mine for Pediatric Palliative Care Resources
The Voice of NCHPP
Providing Seamless Hospice Care
Hospice in the Continuum: Partnering to Provide PACE
Collaboration. Big Picture Perspective. Masterful Results (display ad)
We Honor Veterans Products from Marketplace (display ad)
Back into the Spotlight: Hospice Behind Prison Walls
Free Online Videos About Hospice Care
WHV: Earning Your Stars May be Easier Than You Think
Hospice Outreach: Tailoring Your Message to Your Audience
New Pediatric Training Module
Member News and Notes
Regulatory Tip of the Month
Educational Offerings
Back Cover

NewsLine - August 2011