How one expert says it should be measured, practiced, and improved

Quality care is vital to any medical organization’s success and, of course, the health and outcomes of their patients. But most physicians don’t receive any formal training on quality during their schooling or residency, which means most learning on the topic happens on the job.

When it comes to burnout, are we blaming the victim?

In research by Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Medical Officer of Acclivity Health, palliative care physician shortages are predicted to send patient-to-provider ratios skyrocketing in the coming decade —1:808, to be exact. The reasoning? Dr. Kamal and his team found that one-third of palliative care clinicians are burned out, and two in five are 56 years of age or older. There are about 7,600 physicians board-certified in palliative care. That number is not increasing, meaning as burnout mounts and physicians age, there are no new providers waiting to take their place.

The pandemic forced providers into online care. Will they stay logged in once they can see patients in person?

The coronavirus pandemic has changed nearly every facet of how hospice care is delivered during this time. But when it comes to hospices adopting telehealth in response to the virus, many are wondering if care delivery online will carry into the future. Historically it has been difficult for hospices to establish strong telehealth programs, but now that COVID-19 has forced the issue, what does the path forward look like?

Our very own Robin Stawasz, LMSW and program development executive recently was interviewed by Stan Massey of Transcend Strategy Group.  During the conversation, they discussed the emerging uses of telehealth and remote care tools used to improve care and the overall patient-family experience by offering more comprehensive monitoring and instant communication.