Bereavement Professional

  • 1.  Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-19-2019 10:00 AM
    Hello,    I wanted to reply to Sheralyn's email about Bereavement Counselor attendance at IDT meetings but it only allowed me to reply to her privately and I'm interested in everyone else's interpretation of this requirement. I believe it's the CoP's that say a 'counselor' should be at every IDT meeting. Our agency's interpretation of a 'counselor' = either the chaplain or the bereavement counselor. So, given this, our bereavement counselors are expected to attend every meeting for it's entirety. Every other week the teams review every single patient and on the 'off week' they cover topics that help with team building. If need be it is acceptable if they must miss the short team meeting but for the one where all patients are reviewed they must make sure the chaplain will be there if they can not and those meetings can run 2 - 2 1/2 hours.  This requirement has a significant impact on bereavement counselor's time. I'm interested in how other hospices interpret this. Ours is based on the fact that a Joint Commission surveyor required this which is when we changed our practice a few years back.
          
    ​

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    Patti Anewalt, Director
    Pathways Center for Grief & Loss
    Hospice & Community Care
    Mount Joy, PA
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  • 2.  RE: Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-19-2019 01:44 PM

    Thank you Patti!

     

    We interpret the CoPs in the same way and execute this as ensuring there is always a social worker and chaplain present for the entire meeting, and our bereavement coordinator attends only for the review of the deceased patients, and inquires about newly identified complex anticipatory bereavement at the beginning of each team meeting to gather those in advance of the remainder of the meeting.

     

     

    Joelle Osterhaus, MSW, LCSW, LICSW, ACHP-SW (she/her)
    Hospice, Palliative Care and Continuing Care Psychosocial Services Manager

    Kaiser Permanente Northwest
    Continuing Care Services
    2701 NW Vaughn St., Ste. 140
    Portland, OR 97210-5344

    Cell Phone: (503) 312-0819
    Hospice, Palliative Care, and Home Health / Main Office Reception: (503) 499-5200

    Primary Care at Home / Main Office Reception: (503) 499-5608

    Fax: (503) 499-5535

    CCS Social Work Sharepoint Site (internal use): https://sp-cloud.kp.org/sites/NWCCSSocialWork/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx

    CCS Bereavement Program Sharepoint Site (internal use): https://sites.sp.kp.org/teams/nwreg/NWAmbulatoryCare/CCS/Hospice/SitePages/BS.aspx

    CCS Dept Sharepoint Site (internal use): https://sites.sp.kp.org/teams/nwreg/NWAmbulatoryCare/CCS/SitePages/Home.aspx

     

    Hospice Volunteer Website: https://www.kpnwvolunteer.org/hospice-volunteer-program

    kp.org/thrive

    image001.jpg@01D48805.21A766E0          1__=<a href=07BB0AF4DFEF22D48f9e8a93df@domino.kp.org">           image001.jpg@01D39F2B.E828E280

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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-22-2019 10:18 AM
    ​Hi everyone -

    We interpret the same as Patti. Our bereavement coordinators attend team conference each week and stay the entire time. Each week half of the patients are reviewed (as well as new openings and recerts). It does take a hunk of time, but is very helpful in making sure the patient and families' grief needs are met. And if there is a crisis response or something else comes up or they are on vacation, they find someone to cover for them.

    Hope that helps.

    Diane


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    Diane Snyder Cowan, CHPCA,MA,MT-BC
    Director of Western Reserve Grief Services
    Hospice of the Western Reserve, Inc
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-23-2019 03:54 PM
    We have bereavement representation at all of our IDGs (6). How long each staff member will stay does vary.

    With the meetings I'm responsible for, I remain through deaths, admissions, and any "focus" patients.

    Prior to the meeting, I will review the admission/deceased patients, staying alert to missing or confusing contact information . . . along with anything in the chart that seems like additional information may help with current and/or future grief support. 

    Since most of the families are followed for 13 months after the death, I also see the presence of bereavement staff as a reminder to colleagues that hospice's engagement in the family's life does not end when the patient has died.

    --
    in Peace,
    Larry Patten

    Bereavement Support Specialist
    Center for Grief and Healing
    (559) 248-8579

    "Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd." - Rumi

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  • 5.  RE: Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-22-2019 11:19 AM
    ​In my experience, it is beneficial for the bereavement coordinator to be present at the IDT meetings as the team may have some useful information to provide to the coordinator.  Also, the coordinator can update the team on how the family is doing, along with activities planned for the community, etc. which encourages everyone to be and feel part of the team, along with the opportunity to debrief.
    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-22-2019 12:51 PM
    ​Good question,

    I always attend, it is required for all on the Hospice team, but I get so much connection and information it is always good... it also provides an opportunity to bereave members of the care team if needed.  I am an LPCC and I also function as a SW (doing subsequent visits only)!

    Hope this input helps...

    ------------------------------
    Andrea
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-23-2019 11:29 AM
    ​We have two separate IDT meetings each week, one for our south team that is held at our main office and the other is for our north team and is held about an hour away.  I attend every IDT for our south team and have a chaplain that attends each north IDT.  The chaplain then informs me of any bereavement needs.  Our chaplains and social workers are also very good and keeping me informed about bereavement needs with facilities and families throughout the week not just at IDT.  In a perfect world I would attend both meetings however each of these meetings can run 3-5 hours so it just is not feasible.

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    Karrie Filios MA,LPC
    Bereavement Services Manager
    Agape Hospice Services
    Greenwood Village, CO
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-23-2019 11:35 AM
    Continuing on this topic: Where can we find NHPCO/JoCo standards on how to conduct bereavement involvement within the IDT meeting? What is best practice? Are you charting the interactions between your bereavement staff and the IDT participants, how so?

    --
    Best regards,

    Candice V. Wilkins, MSW, ASW
    Manager, Center for Grief & Healing
    Registration #ASW89794
    2490 W. Shaw Avenue, 2nd Floor Ste. 205
    Fresno, CA 93711


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  • 9.  RE: Bereavement representation at IDT meetings

    Posted 07-23-2019 03:38 PM

    To my knowledge there is absolutely no specification from anyone re: how bereavement counselors actually participate in IDT meetings

     




    Original Message


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