NewsLine - September 2011 - (Page 1)

The Monthly Membership Publication of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization September 2011 No Pain, All Gain Comfortable dying is at the heart of the hospice mission. It is now also one of CMS’s measures for hospice quality reporting per the Final FY2012 Wage Index. In this article, The Denver Hospice discusses a recent performance improvement project—and new Comfortable Dying Protocol—that helped staff control pain in 94 percent of home patients within 48 hours of admission. Its work can serve as a timely example as members prepare for CMS’s quality reporting requirements. By Tracy Hines, AAS; Susan Lasker Hertz, RN, MSN, CHPN; and Christine Zanoni, BSBA T he renowned palliative care physician, Dr. Ira Byock, once said, “There is no such thing as uncontrollable pain, only pain that has yet to be controlled.” These words served as the guiding force behind a Comfortable Dying Protocol which The Denver Hospice (TDH) unveiled in March 2010. The Protocol, which TDH had also adopted as one of its organizational pillar goals, was the result of a Inside New Study on Dementia Patients A new study shows that bereaved family members of nursing home patients who died of dementia felt their loved ones had received better care because of hospice. continued on next page 2011 Circle of Life Awards Six of the seven programs honored this year are NHPCO members. See the photos from this prestigious event. Hospice in the Continuum Redmond-Sisters Hospice is a small, rural program in Central Oregon. Despite a limited budget for expansion, it introduced a Transitions program seven years ago. Executive Director Rebecca Bryan discusses the many benefits. Plus… • A Message From Don • The 2011 Hospice Quilt • A New Tool for Choosing a Quality Hospice • Hospice Wins Big Impact Award • Coming This Winter: National Buyer’s Guide • Member News and Notes • Regulatory Tip of the Month • NHPCO Educational Offerings The Voice of NCHPP Hospice By The Bay adopted a transdisciplinary team model in 2007. Laura Koehler, director of clinical servicessouth, shares the reasons for the change—and the many rewards. http://www.nhpco.org/files/public/regulatory/Wage_Index_Final_FY2012_080111.pdf http://www.nhpco.org/files/public/regulatory/Wage_Index_Final_FY2012_080111.pdf

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

NewsLine – September 2011
No Pain, All Gain
A Message From Don
We Earned Our Merit Badge in Clinical Excellence (display ad)
New Study on Dementia Patients
Custom-Print Marketplace (display ad)
Circle of Life Award 2011 Honorees
The Transitions Program at Redmond-Sisters Hospice
Recruiting Problems? HMR (display ad)
The Voice of NCHPP
The Transdisciplinary Team Model
Hospice Care Wins Big Impact Award
New Tool for Choosing a Quality Hospice
2011 Hospice Quilt
Coming This Winter: National Buyer’s Guide
Member News and Notes
Collaboration. The Corridor Group (display ad)
Regulatory Tip of the Month
Educational Offerings
Back Cover
FHSSA Newsletter

NewsLine - September 2011