Hospice of the Chesapeake leader aims to think outside the box on hospice, palliative care

Education remains a barrier to hospice care, Rachel Jordan, director of legislative affairs and advocacy at Hospice of the Chesapeake, said. There is still a lot of fear and stigma surrounding the word hospice. The provider, which has four locations and recently began offering high-flow oxygen, tries to reassure people that hospice does not have to mean forgoing treatment. As a nurse practitioner, Jordan said her goal is to support the patient and family, improve the symptom burden and increase quality of life. The African-American community, in particular, has mistrust pertaining to hospice, she pointed out. To help spread the word about hospice to this community, she reaches out to local Black churches. And to raise awareness about hospice among caregivers, she is working with nursing programs at institutions of higher education to intertwine hospice and palliative care education throughout the curriculum. Her organization is working to prepare for the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool, which is set to begin Oct. 1.Follow us on social media:X (formerly Twitter): @McKHomeCareFacebook: McKnight's Home CareLinkedIn: McKnight's Home CareInstagram: mcknights_homecareFollow Hospice of the Chesapeake on social media:Facebook: Hospice of the ChesapeakeLinkedIn: Hospice of the ChesapeakeShow contributors:McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger; Rachel Jordan, Director of Legislative Affairs and Advocacy, Hospice of the Chesapeake Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.