Page 70 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2021- Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES

COVID-19

&

Hospice Care

by Ronald J. Crossno, MD, FAAFP, FAAHPM,
Chief Medical Officer and National Medical Director
Kindred at Home – Hospice Division

The topic on everyone’s mind right to a home visit to ascertain the level similarly reduces the burden other
now is COVID-19. This article is of personal protective equipment healthcare providers experience for
not a review of the disease or acute (PPE) our staff needs to come into these frail and vulnerable patients
COVID-19 management, but the role the patient’s home. We are availing at a time when their attention is
hospice plays during this pandemic. ourselves of all options to ensure focused elsewhere. Keeping patients
adequate supplies of PPE, which at home helps all involved.
A general perception is that have been relatively scarce. We have
healthcare providers not on the deployed the use of telehealth for Hospice referrals of patients, who
front line with COVID-19 patients remote visits by all our clinicians, already have a likely life expectancy
have been more or less sidelined nurse practitioners, and hospice of six months or less before a crisis
during the pandemic. This is not our physicians. Some of the Medicare results in a hospitalization, actually
experience for hospice. waivers allowing this have literally have been shown to improve patient

As many people are dying in the US required an act of Congress, which satisfaction while also reducing
the strain on a burdened acute care
without this terrible viral infection was achieved with the recent relief system.
as were dying before it appeared. package passed with help from our
What has changed is that patients advocacy. We Are Here. Our hospice
with terminal conditions have more We also ensure clear lines of professionals have experience
reason to stay away from hospitals, communication regarding in navigating these difficult
and home hospice is busy. Our management of our patients times and remain a resource for
hospice staff have proven to be through this crisis. Our physician other professionals who may be
essential workers in getting through leadership communicates with our struggling. Our Care Matters.
this current crisis. local hospice physicians for current

We developed and put into place procedures and management, as
protocols for the management of all well as providing resources for their Questions about hospice
aspects of caring for hospice patients community regarding end-of-life care? Call Kindred Hospice in
during this public health emergency. care. Maintaining hospice patients in Amarillo at 806-372-7696 or
We have instituted screening prior their place of residence has helped Kindred Hospice in Lubbock at
to the start of every clinician’s many communities keep hospital 806-748-1041. Learn about our
workday to minimize potential beds available that are sorely family of hospice care providers
exposure. We screen patients prior needed for COVID-19 patients. Our at curohealthservices.com.
management of hospice patients

70 Lubbock Senior Link