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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shirley Freyer
Concordia Lutheran Ministries
Tel: 1-724-352-1571 x8266
sfreyer@concordialm.org

Issues Confronting Hospice Providers - Good Samaritan Hospice

Cabot, PA – As the perception of hospice continues to mature in the minds of patients, caregivers, and physicians, the concept of end of life comfort care is gradually becoming a more accepted practice. With each stage of growth, certain challenges are overcome – while others just begin to surface.

According to Anzie Kelley, executive director at Good Samaritan Hospice (GSH), a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, there are several issues in the current landscape of hospice care that need to be confronted. The key to these issues, she said, is education.

“Education is a challenge on several levels,” Kelley said. “We often get patients late in their disease progression, who don’t have a clear understanding of how hospice can help. If patients and families knew what to expect from hospice, they could benefit more from the service.”

Michele Hartman, GSH director of clinical operations, said she hopes that conversations regarding hospice care can begin a little sooner – before the patient’s disease has progressed to its final stage.  Social workers, physicians, family members, or even the patient can initiate these conversations.

GSH proactively attempts to educate the public by hosting informational sessions, participating in health fairs, and meeting with people one on one. Hartman said the idea is to spark the conversation so that people gain a better understanding of hospice care.

Opening peoples’ minds to discussing end of life care can be a challenge.

“There is such a lack of comfort when discussing death,” Hartman said. “It is difficult to get people to be receptive to the message that death is a part of life.”

Kelley said that this discomfort extends beyond the general community and into the healthcare profession, often delaying the start of hospice care.

While the Medicare hospice benefit provides insurance coverage for older patients, many private insurances and HMOs have limited hospice benefits.

“As a 27 year old teacher, for example, hospice coverage in your insurance plan would not be a priority,” Kelley said. “The reality is, one never knows what God’s plan is, and being informed is the first and most crucial step in making good choices.”

Another challenge confronting hospice providers is that ethical issues, such as having advance directives in order, often are not addressed prior to the institution of hospice services. Hospice professionals help patients and families make informed choices.

Good Samaritan Hospice provides end of life care at the Hospice House in Wexford, the in-patient unit at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot, and in the patient’s home. For more information on hospice, please contact GSH at 1.800.720.2557.