Behind the Scenes + A New Free Guide for Professionals

It’s been busy here. You may remember from my last note I was facing the 40th anniversary of my brother’s accident, subsequent extubation, and peaceful death. I took some time for that and also attended the 2023 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Leadership Conference at the beginning of October.
 
I was honored to deliver the conference keynote presentation, which explored the relationship between leadership and family caregiving. In my speech, I emphasized the importance of recognizing the often-overlooked family caregiver as a valuable resource for the professional caregiver team in Palliative Care programs. Additionally, I proposed that Hospice organizations should prioritize patient and family caregiver-centered care and service, as it is ultimately the family caregiver who completes satisfaction surveys and spreads the word - good or bad - about the hospice by name. 

Just a few days following the keynote, I joined forces with professors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Social Work for a day-long symposium called End of Life: Areas of Expertise and Empowerment. About 100 fully engaged social workers, nurses, and students were in attendance. By the end of the day, the entire audience was as bright-eyed and captivated as they had been first thing in the morning. There is clearly a need and desire to learn about end-of-life and grief. The world seems to know we have not given these topics their due.

Both presentations were the launch of a new educational guide to help healthcare professionals implement the term “Precious Time,” as it was originally described on page three of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal, to help on the occasion when there’s a need to deliver news to a person and their loved ones that death is nearing. 

I realize that people from all walks subscribe to my newsletter. If you are a healthcare professional or know someone who is, please download the complimentary guide and give it a read.