Hospice Personalized Care Plans Based On Condition In Los Banos, California
In recent years, hospice-based care has experienced tremendous growth as a result of new operating models, improved use of healthcare data and more public awareness. However, for many hospice organizations, the increasing complexity of compliance documentation, combined with the increasing pressures of the pandemic, has highlighted the need for further individualization in the Plan of Care and services provided.
What exactly is a "personalized care plan"?
In this collaborative procedure, the patient and clinician discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the condition and then work together to establish appropriate management goals for the condition. Its goal is to ensure that the treatment of a patient’s health problems is guided by the values and concerns of the patient. It entails taking a proactive rather than a reactive approach to care, with one-on-one sessions that are carefully scheduled and frequent. The organization’s mission is to educate and empower patients.
- Part of the preparation process involves gathering baseline data (such as blood tests) and exchanging information about the condition.
- Talking about the patient’s understanding of their condition, as well as their beliefs, concerns and preferences. There must be agreement on management objectives.
- This project is a collaboration between the clinician and the patient.
- A single shared record or two separate records for the doctor and the patient to keep track of, is required for documentation.
- The clinician is responsible for ensuring that the interventions that have been agreed upon are carried out successfully.
- A mutually agreed-upon schedule for follow-up calls.
- Evaluation of progress and planning for the future in one integrated process.
Having chronic (or long-term) disease is like playing dodge ball in that you must constantly duck and sidestep to avoid the next obstruction. Consider the possibility of taking command of your condition and managing it, rather than allowing it to command your life.
Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, as well as mood and anxiety disorders, are on the rise in the United States. When it comes to the elderly, the risk is particularly high, as many Americans over the age of 50 suffer from multiple chronic conditions at the same time. The unfortunate reality is that the greater the number of chronic diseases you have, the lower your quality of life will be, the more likely it is that you will end up in the hospital, and the more likely it is that your healthcare providers will provide you with conflicting information.
For the most part, chronic illness care is “reactive,” meaning that action is taken only when a patient is suffering from a medical condition. In contrast, being “proactive” and confronting chronic illness head-on is a different approach to dealing with it. This involves concentrating on strengthening your ability to control your own condition(s) and health. As stated above, the Chronic Care Model seeks to empower and encourage you to be a more active participant in your own health by increasing your awareness and participation in care decisions related to your health condition(s).
Personalized care planning is one technique that adheres to this model of care. Essentially, it consists of you and your healthcare professional (and, in some cases, your caregiver) discussing the treatment and management of your condition(s) and then working together to develop appropriate management goals and an action plan to achieve them. The process of personalized care planning consists of seven steps, which are as follows: patient preparation, goal setting, developing an action plan, documenting the process, coordinating the process with other healthcare professionals, providing patient support and monitoring progress. The planning process can lead to discussions about testing and treatments as well as information on self-management, education and support, as well as strategies to modify behaviors, solve problems and manage stress, among other things.
Importance of the level of care provided by hospice workers
A common concern among those nearing the end of their lives is that they will not receive the same level of care as other patients or that their death will be hastened while in hospice. However, this is not always the case. Death does not have to be hastened or hastened by hospice care, which is compassionate and humane in nature. You will be treated with the same level of care as people who are undergoing curative treatment for their condition. The only difference is that the emphasis of care is on the quality of life rather than the length of time spent in the hospital. Indeed, patients who receive hospice care are more likely to live longer life because they are more comfortable and experience fewer side effects from chemotherapy near the end of their lives. Other patients are concerned that they will be medicated to the point where they will be unable to make decisions or spend their final days in the manner of their preference. Your hospice care team will collaborate with you to determine your end-of-life care goals and develop a care plan that will allow you to achieve those goals while remaining comfortable in your final days. Medication is only one component of a comprehensive treatment strategy. Among the therapies that may be used are music and art therapy, physical therapy, nutrition treatment, massage and others.
Listed below are four suggestions for how hospices can improve the priority and individualized care they provide to terminally ill patients.
- Engage the patient in an open conversation
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer than half of terminally ill patients had an advance directive in their medical records outlining their end-of-life wishes at the time of their diagnosis. Despite the fact that the order was on file, 65 to 76 percent of doctors were not aware of its existence at the time.
These conditions can only be achieved if a number of factors come together. When it comes to end of life, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) notes that patients and caregivers are often reluctant to acknowledge the imminent end of life but they also recognize that a skilled hospice team can help create the conditions for a peaceful transition.
The first step in providing truly tailored care is to engage in an open and honest discussion about end-of-life timelines and the specific hospice services that patients may want to receive so that their end-of-life preferences can be fulfilled. It is important to create a safe environment for open-ended dialogues because it allows patients to express any concerns they may have and ensures that any misconceptions are addressed, thereby reducing stress and worry.
- Adhere to Appropriate End-of-Life Care Frameworks
Advance directives provide a framework for end-of-life care but they are rendered ineffective if they are not followed. Considering that many families are unable to see their loved ones on a regular basis due to the epidemic of social distancing protection programs, this is especially critical. Consequently, family members must have confidence in the hospice staff’s ability to carry out directive wishes when they are required to.
To reiterate, adequate documentation is required for palliative care personalization to take place. Hospice workers require purpose-built, streamlined software that allows them to gather patient care preferences quickly and accurately and then store that information in secure medical records. Hospice clinicians must have access to these records at all times and from any location in order to ensure that these frameworks are followed. This allows them to spend as much time with patients as possible rather than searching for paperwork, which saves time and money.
- Adopt a patient-centered strategy
Hospice professionals play an important role in the care of patients nearing the end of their lives. By becoming more familiar with a patient-centered approach to palliative processes, hospice personnel can improve the customization and overall quality of care provided to patients.
A recent study found that three factors are critical for personalization: treating the patient as a whole person, making the patient feel special and taking the patient’s social circumstances into consideration. Most hospice clinicians have a natural empathy for their patients and they are committed to providing the best possible care for their patients at all times.
Unfortunately, methods that were originally developed for other medical purposes and then adapted for hospice work can sometimes sabotage efforts to provide whole-person palliative care. Hospice workers can benefit from software such as Optima Hospice, which provides them with access to one-screen assessments and plans of care, as well as pre-populated interdisciplinary paperwork, to better assist them in providing the whole-person care their patients require.
- To assist families in their follow-up care
It is not the end of the hospice agency’s job when a patient passes away. In addition, follow-up with the patient’s family is essential, both immediately after the event and at regular intervals for up to 13 months following the hospice patient’s death. The result is that hospice workers are better able to communicate with families and caregivers about grief and healing and to provide additional support when necessary.
What exactly is the problem? If you have a large number of patients to track down and a large number of manual data entry tasks to complete for each patient, it’s easy for follow-ups to be overlooked in the shuffle. When using automated medical software solutions, hospice personnel can stay on track with data-driven reminders to follow up with bereaved family members and increase the impact of individualized care for bereaved individuals.
The physical, emotional and financial challenges that patients and their families face when they are terminally ill are numerous. Personalized palliative care can assist hospice agencies in alleviating these end-of-life burdens by establishing compassionate connections with patients and their families.
Hospice Care Has Several Advantages
Hospice care offers a variety of advantages to patients and their families and even those who are familiar with the concept of actively seeking information about it may be surprised by how much it can benefit them. The following services are available through hospice if you or a loved one is nearing the end of their treatment.
Keeping a positive attitude and focusing on the individual as they navigate this difficult period in their lives, patients and their families can rely on hospice for one-on-one attention and assistance. Suggestions are always welcome and appreciated. Something like this, in our opinion, is a fantastic concept.
Compared to previous years, the number of readmissions has decreased significantly. As a patient’s condition worsens, he or she may require more frequent hospitalizations and longer stays. It is possible to reduce the need for a patient to be readmitted to the hospital by providing hospice care at home.
One of the most important advantages of hospice is the availability of clinical assistance at any time. Melodia Care provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week clinical support. As a result of Melodia Care’s training and resources, families can make a positive impact on those they care about.
Bring up the subject of death in a conversation is not something most people are comfortable with. In order to get the conversation started, here are some suggestions:
A person who has been diagnosed with heart disease has a completely different experience than someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a lung condition. In order to address the specific symptoms and social and emotional demands that each disease or illness can bring, Melodia Care tailors our hospice care plan—both clinical care and support services—to each individual patient.
You can reach us at any time of day or night by contacting us through our 24/7 online customer support chat or by calling 1-888 635-6347 (MELODI-7).