EPISODE 22- When is it time to switch from Home Health to Hospice Care?

Show notes- Mourning Dove Medical Presents Dr. G at the Heart of Healthcare  Special Guest- Diane Logan NEW Regional Director of Operations at Mission Healthcare https://www.homewithmission.com - Almost 3 decades of experience in Home Health transformed by 14 months working as Director of Patient Care Services for a local hospice agency. -She learned the advantages of hospice care for patients and families who choose this type of palliative care sooner. Mission of this podcast- Educate & Empower in three parts, helping listeners ‘SEE’ what’s needed to navigate the healthcare system. 1. Story (theme) Diane was new to hospice and would say, “I don’t know hospice, I am a home health nurse.” Now in her new role in home health leadership, she shares how working in hospice equipped her to educate home health nurses about hospice care. 2. Educate (Teaching point) It may be time for a new level of care that will support a dying patient and family more effectively. It takes listening and good communication skills. Nurse Diane’s bedside clues to recognize Hospice Readiness: - Missing or resisting treatments that are no longer working. - Rehospitalization rates “keep going back in” for symptoms like shortness of breath, pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. - Declines in physical, nutritional, and mental status; - Loss of hope “I don’t want to do this anymore”; family resistant - Recurrent infections; - Check scores for objective data: PPS/KPS; FAST scale, ECOG performance status. 3. Empower -Valuable Resources THE CONVERSATION PROJECT https://theconversationproject.org Communication Skills Clinical Training for PHYSICIANS- CAPC Communication Skills https://www.capc.org/training/communication-skills/ EVERYONE The EOL Deck https://thedeathdeck.com/pages/eol-deck Website info https://mourningdovemedical.com Video podcast https://youtu.be/-7HspaWca4o?si=2ikWyq0uDJWbU-bk #hapc #EducateAndEmpower #PeaceOfMind #HomeHealth #hospice #Nursing #Conversation #CommunicationSkills #EOL