HEART TO HEART HOSPICE
The team at Heart to Heart Hospice tell us how a digital transformation is helping patients in their care live life to the fullest, especially at the end of life’s journey.
T
he COVID-19 pandemic disrupted every single industry and sector of society, with very obvious repercussions for healthcare systems. For hospice care, which is based on compassionate, person-centered care, social distancing restrictions and the requirement to wear PPE meant staff had to get very creative to continue providing the reassuring care their patients needed. At Heart to Heart Hospice, which cares for patients across Indiana, Michigan and Texas, the technology they began implementing a few years previously as part of their digital journey helped to overcome many of these challenges. Russ Abercrombie, Chief Information Officer, explains what the first few days were like after the pandemic was declared: "A very serious communication gap was created when the COVID pandemic was declared. It was critical that our care teams remained in contact with their patients and family members and also the staff needed to stay in contact with each other for coordination of care. Within days we procured a video conference solution for each office and deployed the mobile client to over 1800 mobile devices. Additionally, people still needed hospice services, so admissions were made virtually for the first time, and with the CMS 1135 Waiver, telehealth services were allowed, which enabled Heart to Heart’s psychosocial and spiritual care staff members, as well as bereavement support, to remain available.” technologymagazine.com
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