Hospice care has recently received some much deserved recognition from Modern Healthcare media, being named the winner of The Big Impact Tournament, as voted on by publication’s readers. The competition was designed to honor people, events, innovations, and organizations that have had the biggest impact on healthcare over the past 35 years.
Hospice providers are some of the most humble and selfless care givers in the business of healthcare, and this award showcases just that. Over the years, hospice care has grown from grass-roots efforts and volunteer-based care into an integral part of healthcare.
In a press release discussing the win, j. Donald Schumacher, President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), listed the following items as “hallmarks of hospice care”:
- Patient-centered care – focusing on the wishes and priorities of those being cared for;
- Home and community-based care – empowering patients to receive care at home, nursing homes, assisted living and other settings;
- Family caregivers – supporting families and teaching them to care for their loved ones at home;
- Interdisciplinary, holistic care – delivering care and services that focus on pain management, symptom control, psychosocial and spiritual support;
Schumacher also stated, “Innovation never stops within the hospice field with many hospice organizations working to develop the continuum of care that builds on the many benefits of hospice and would bring more seamless care delivery to all individuals facing serious and life-limiting illness,”
As healthcare continues to progress and strive to provide quality, cost-effective care to patients, the topic of electronic medical records is always top of the list. By streamlining patient records and charting, medical software allows the clinicians and care givers to spend more time doing what they do best: caring for the patient.
And although Hospice Care beat out electronic health records and 62 other contenders to win the tournament, it is obvious that great healthcare is a collaborative concept and none of the nominees would be what they are without the others.
Congratulations to hospice providers everywhere and thank you for all you do.
Link for The Big Impact Tournament: http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20110725/SUPPLEMENT/110729979/-1
Link for the press release from NHPCO: http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=5853