Concordia Hospice Of Washington

HOME HOSPICE/NURSING: ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND TO PROVIDE ASSOCIATED SERVICES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, OPERATION OF A NON-PROFIT HOSPICE.

CONCORDIA HOSPICE OF WASHINGTON (CHOW) IS A HOSPICE AGENCY IN WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA. THE AGENCY'S FOCUS IS ON END-OF-LIFE QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR PATIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES FACING A TERMINALLY ILL PROGNOSIS. THE CARE IS PROVIDED BY A TEAM THAT INCLUDES VOLUNTEERS, REGISTERED NURSES AND LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, HOME HEALTH AIDES, CHAPLAINS, BEREAVEMENT COUNSELORS AND MEDICAL DIRECTORS. A PLAN OF CARE IS WRITTEN FOR EACH PATIENT AND IS FOLLOWED BY THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THE AGENCY IS COMPLYING WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS WHILE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE FOR THE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES. CHOW IS PART OF A LARGE CONTINUUM STRIVING TO CARE FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, AVOID REHOSPITALIZATIONS, PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT TO THEIR FAMILIES AND IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE WHILE ON THEIR END-OF-LIFE JOURNEY. EACH PERSON IN OUR CARE HAS INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS, SO OUR APPROACH TO END-OF-LIFE CARE FOCUSES ON A PATIENT SPECIFIC PLAN OF CARE. DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 CHOW PROVIDED CARE THROUGH 24,947 DAYS OF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY. CHOW HAS PROVIDED CARE TO 404 PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THEIR HOME. MAKING THE DECISION TO ELECT HOSPICE IS A CHALLENGING ONE FOR FAMILIES. IT IS A DECISION THAT REQUIRES A COMBINATION OF CLINICAL EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. THE CHOW REFLECTION OF CARE HELPS FAMILIES BY PROVIDING THOSE REQUIRED ELEMENTS TO MAKE THIS DIFFICULT DECISION. THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE) POSED MANY CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE YEAR. WE SAW A SHIFT IN HEALTHCARE. THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP TO CARRY HEALTHCARE SERVICES INTO THE FUTURE. IN MARCH 2020, THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTED ITS EMERGENCY DISASTER PLAN. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ACROSS THE CONTINUUM MET ROUTINELY TO CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATE THE SITUATION REGARDING THE PHE AND EVER-CHANGING STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDANCE FOR THE SAFE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED OR KNOWN COVID-19 INFECTIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP ALL STAFF SAFE AND HEALTHY. AT TIMES, STAFFING BECAME A CHALLENGE WHEN STAFF NEEDED TO QUARANTINE DUE TO EXPOSURE OR TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. A STAFFING CONTINGENCY PLAN WAS PUT INTO PLACE SO THAT THE ORGANIZATION WOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION TO CARE FOR AS MANY PATIENTS AS POSSIBLE IN THE SAFEST OF WAYS. THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PHE, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FOCUSED EDUCATION ON VARIOUS RELATED TOPICS. THESE TOPICS INCLUDED WHAT COVID-19 IS, HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD, HOW TO CARE FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, MITIGATION EFFORTS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION (THE ORGANIZATION PURCHASED $10,273 OF PPE AND RELATED SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR FOR USE IN THE COMMUNITY AND ADMIN) AND OTHER INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES. THIS EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED THROUGH VARYING PLATFORMS SUCH AS SECURE MESSAGING, AT VIRTUAL STAFF MEETINGS AND THROUGH THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, ELSEVIER. STAFF HAVE ALSO BEEN EDUCATED ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATIONS AS A TOOL TO HELP END THE PHE. CHOW TAKES IT ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY VERY SERIOUSLY. OVER THE LAST YEAR LONG-TERM LIVING FACILITIES AND PERSONAL CARE HOMES HAVE DRASTICALLY LIMITED VISITATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THIS PROMPTED THE STAFF OF CHOW TO DEVELOP AND LAUNCH THE CARDINAL PROJECT TO HELP ENHANCE THE LIVES OF THEIR RESIDENTS DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME. DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR ROUGHLY 200 BIRD HOUSES HAVE BEEN DONATED TO LOCAL FACILITIES AND HAVE BEEN PLACED OUTSIDE OF PATIENT ROOMS. CHOW WORKS WITH A HOME HEALTH AGENCY AND HOSPITAL SYSTEM TO FACILITATE A STRONG PALLIATIVE CARE PROGRAM THAT FOSTERS COMPASSIONATE TRANSITIONS FROM NURSING TO HOSPICE CARE AS DISEASES OR CONDITIONS PROGRESS. HOSPICE DOCTORS AND NURSES ARE UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST MEDICATIONS FOR PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT. HOSPICE CARE IS ANOTHER LEVEL OF CARE THAT CONCENTRATES ON TREATING SYMPTOMS AND ENSURING COMFORT. THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THAT EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL PAIN IS JUST AS REAL AND IN NEED OF ATTENTION AS PHYSICAL PAIN AND SO ADDRESSES EACH. WE PROVIDE CLERGY AND COUNSELORS TO HELP PATIENTS AND FAMILIES WITH EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS. ONE ON ONE BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING SESSIONS ARE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES FOR THOSE WHO WE SERVE, AS WELL AS MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ON OUR SERVICE. WE GET CALLS FROM THE COMMUNITY ASKING IF WE ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE COUNSELING TO THOSE WHO HAD A DEATH IN THE FAMILY BUT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT ON HOSPICE AND WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO ASSIST. CONCORDIA HOSPICE OF WASHINGTON BELIEVES THAT RECEIVING QUALITY HOSPICE CARE SHOULD NOT BE DICTATED BY WHETHER YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR NOT. CHOW IS ALWAYS WILLING TO TAKEN ON PATIENTS WITHOUT INSURANCE WHEN NEEDED. ADDITIONALLY, CHOW HAS BEEN WILLING TO WRITE OFF SUMS OF MONEY WHEN FINANCIAL CONCERNS RAISE EVEN WHEN A PATIENT IS FULLY INSURED, BUT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CO-PAYS. OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE PROVIDED $1,552 WORTH OF CHARITY CARE. CHOW UTILIZES VOLUNTEERS TO GO WHEREVER THE CLIENT CALLS THEIR HOME; THAT COULD BE A NURSING FACILITY, THEIR HOUSE, OR INPATIENT UNIT. THESE VOLUNTEERS ASSIST WITH VARIOUS TASKS AND ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR. OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE VOLUNTEERS AT CONCORDIA HOSPICE OF WASHINGTON HAVE PROVIDED 106 HOURS OF SERVICE. VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE OVER THE LAST YEAR DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HOWEVER CHOW HAS ATTEMPTED TO TARGET SPECIFIC VOLUNTEER NEEDS LIKE PLAYING MUSIC, PET THERAPY, SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, BEAUTICIAN NEEDS AND VARIOUS OTHER SPECIFIC NEEDS. MANY VOLUNTEERS DONATE THEIR SEWING AND CRAFT MAKING SKILLS TO PROVIDE ITEMS OF COMFORT TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES BY CREATING PRAYER SHAWLS, BLANKETS, LAP QUILTS AND ROSARIES THE AGENCY PROVIDES EDUCATION IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY DISCUSSING HOSPICE CARE AS IT RELATES TO A TERMINAL DISEASE. VOLUNTEERS HELP US WITH MARKETING AND RECRUITING OTHER VOLUNTEERS. THEY HELP US WHEN WE GO TO HEALTH-RELATED FUNCTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ARE AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS HOSPICE SERVICES AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE PUBLIC. THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RECEIVED DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM CHOW THROUGH DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS OF EVENTS: CONCORDIA LUTHERAN MINISTRIES CHARITABLE FUND, AND TO THE WASHINGTON HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION FOR TWO EVENTS. TOTAL DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS MADE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 WERE JUST OVER $2,300. CONCORDIA HOSPICE OF WASHINGTON HELD ITS THIRD ANNUAL BUTTERFLY RELEASE EVENT ON SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2020. THIS MEMORIAL EVENT WAS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTED TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE MEMORY OF THEIR LOVED ONES, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE EVER ON SERVICE AT CHOW. THE SERVICE WAS CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER AND THE BUTTERFLIES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE WHO PURCHASED THEM ON A DRIVE-UP BASIS AND THEN RELEASED AT HOME. OVER 500 BUTTERFLIES WERE SOLD FOR THIS EVENT.

CHOW ALSO OFFERS INPATIENT CARE FOR HELP IN THE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE, COMPLEX OR UNCONTROLLED SYMPTOMS SUCH AS PAIN OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH. CHOW PROVIDES END-OF-LIFE INPATIENT HOSPICE CARE SERVICES AT AN EIGHT-BED INPATIENT UNIT (IPU) CALLED THE DONNELL HOUSE WHERE PATIENTS CAN BE PLACED FOR SEVERE SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT AND HOPEFULLY RETURN HOME WHEN STABILIZED. ANALGESIC NEEDS THAT CANNOT BE MANAGED AT HOME, SUCH AS COMPLICATED DELIVERY MECHANISMS I.E., SUBCUTANEOUS, FREQUENT DOSE TITRATION, AND SKILLED NURSING CARE WITH FREQUENT MONITORING CAN BE PROVIDED IN THE GENERAL INPATIENT SETTING. CHOW PROVIDED THIS LEVEL OF CARE TO 115 PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR END. CHOW PROVIDED CARE THROUGH 1,734 DAYS OF CARE IN THE IPU. THE HOSPICE STAFF ARE AVAILABLE AT THE DONNELL HOUSE INPATIENT LOCATION AROUND THE CLOCK TO CONSULT AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AS THEY JOURNEY THROUGH THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE. SHORT-TERM RESPITE CARE IS ALSO PROVIDED BY NURSING STAFF TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN ON FAMILY CAREGIVERS. THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE) POSED MANY CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE YEAR. WE SAW A SHIFT IN HEALTHCARE. THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP TO CARRY HEALTHCARE SERVICES INTO THE FUTURE. IN MARCH 2020, THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTED ITS EMERGENCY DISASTER PLAN. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ACROSS THE CONTINUUM MET ROUTINELY TO CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATE THE SITUATION REGARDING THE PHE AND EVER-CHANGING STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDANCE FOR THE SAFE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED OR KNOWN COVID-19 INFECTIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP ALL STAFF SAFE AND HEALTHY. AT TIMES, STAFFING BECAME A CHALLENGE WHEN STAFF NEEDED TO QUARANTINE DUE TO EXPOSURE OR TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. A STAFFING CONTINGENCY PLAN WAS PUT INTO PLACE SO THAT THE ORGANIZATION WOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION TO CARE FOR AS MANY PATIENTS AS POSSIBLE IN THE SAFEST OF WAYS. THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PHE, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FOCUSED EDUCATION ON VARIOUS RELATED TOPICS. THESE TOPICS INCLUDED WHAT COVID-19 IS, HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD, HOW TO CARE FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, MITIGATION EFFORTS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION (THE ORGANIZATION PURCHASED $5,229 OF PPE AND RELATED SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR FOR USE IN THE IPU) AND OTHER INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES. THIS EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED THROUGH VARYING PLATFORMS SUCH AS SECURE MESSAGING, AT VIRTUAL STAFF MEETINGS AND THROUGH THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, ELSEVIER. STAFF HAVE ALSO BEEN EDUCATED ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATIONS AS A TOOL TO HELP END THE PHE.