End of life care issues and challenges are common. But there are ways you can anticipate, avoid, and mitigate them as a hospice agency, particularly by choosing the right tools.
Common Challenges in End of Life Care and What You Can Do About Them
Because end of life conversations are often difficult, both patients and clinicians may avoid discussing the challenges end of life presents. But you can recognize and tackle the end of life care issues and challenges facing hospice care head-on with the help of the right tools.
Late Hospice Referrals
One of the most difficult end of life issues is hospice referrals coming late. These may cause a scramble for family members, patients, and you to transfer care arrangements and get the correct referrals for integrated medical care to address urgent symptoms.
The right tools can help you digitally transfer from home health care to hospice. They can also help you get referrals updated in minutes. Use digital tools to send requests for mobile referrals on the go. Watch the process unfold on a tracking dashboard that updates the status of your referrals in real time.
Manual Workflows
In a paperwork-heavy field, manual workflows may slow you down, which in turn can hinder your ability to care for people in need. There's no need to prolong discomfort with cumbersome, outdated processes.
For example, using modern digital tools to streamline workflows can help you keep track of documents with a virtual printer. Eliminate scanning, copying, downloading, and more by easily uploading paper documents to a digital, online format. Similarly, you can assemble a referral packet with ease thanks to automated digital solutions.
Misconceptions About the End of Life Process
Reluctance to plan for end of life decisions may leave some patients feeling confused. Only 24% of patients document their end of life care wishes. As a provider, you may want to explain that their preferences are still important. One item to discuss is the goals of care and what to expect. Confronting these hospice care issues upfront can reduce friction in the care process.
Discuss what you can provide in terms of pain management, how you will coordinate with the care providers, and what kinds of devices you anticipate ordering to improve the patient's quality of life.
Management of Pain and Improving Quality of Life
Pain management is an art. Different diseases respond to different drugs and medications. For palliative care patients with a terminal illness, appropriate and successful pain management is essential to maximizing quality of life.
Postponing pain management or overmedicating can be challenges present in end of life care. Streamlining communication between hospice clinicians and other care providers can reduce the delay in pain management.
Find Out What Our Referral Management Solution Can Do for Your Agency
If your team has bumped against some end of life care issues and challenges, consider what WorldView's referral management solution could do for your agency. Get timely referrals, streamline workflows, clarify end of life processes, and improve quality of life when you make use of the digital tools WorldView's software offers.
