Bereavement Professional

  • 1.  What does your IDG bereavement time look like?

    Posted 09-23-2020 05:18 PM
    Greetings Colleagues!
    I am writing to find out how other hospices layout their bereavement time for IDG/IDT meetings.
    Currently we begin with a roll-call (as we're no longer in one room, but scattered in the age of Covid). We move into bereavement reflecting on those patients who died in the past week on our services and how their families/surviving individual(s) are doing and how those who have had contact with them feel we should/could best continue services in our bereavement plan of care.

    We also have included some 'self-reflection time for healing' in the past for staff, but this seems 'disconnected' to the main focus of bereavement and IDT - to help create a POC for the survivor(s).  We currently have a time cut out bi-weekly to virtually gather for support, reflection and self-care.

    Your insights as to what you are doing is welcome.  Thank you - in advance.
    Peace.
    -- Andrew

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    Andrew J. Vitale, CT
    Bereavement Coordinator-Spiritual Counselor
    Northern Illinois Hospice
    Rockford, IL
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  • 2.  RE: What does your IDG bereavement time look like?

    Posted 10-06-2020 10:49 AM

    Hi Andrew,
    This is a great question - I hope others respond. I'm somewhat new to bereavement and have been asked to think of ways to support staff in the face of so much loss and so many challenges.

    Best,

    Tamara

    Tamara Church, MSW, LMSW
    Bereavement Social Worker
    Lutheran Hospice
    Chapin, SC




  • 3.  RE: What does your IDG bereavement time look like?

    Posted 10-06-2020 04:34 PM
    I'd love to follow this thread as well, as I am also new to bereavement and am looking to develop programs in my community as well as within our hospice's affiliated hospital.


  • 4.  RE: What does your IDG bereavement time look like?

    Posted 10-09-2020 10:04 AM
    Hi Andrew,
    Can you describe how your staff virtually "gathers for support, reflection and self-care"? 

    Does this consist of a phone call or online platform?

    Many thanks,
    Tamara

    Tamara Church, MSW, LMSW
    Bereavement Social Worker
    Lutheran Hospice
    Chapin, SC



  • 5.  RE: What does your IDG bereavement time look like?

    Posted 10-13-2020 10:55 AM

    We utilize Microsoft teams as our platform and team members are all able to 'see' one another.  Our bereavement coordinator reads the names aloud, facilitates the discussion around gaining understanding of the loss experience and anticipated bereaved level of risk and need, and thereafter the bereavement coordinator reads a quote or poem. This is much the same as it was before the pandemic as we were utilizing virtual prior to March, and thus the teams have adapted to this as the norm and had settled into the format.  The four teams we have utilize a separate time for a 'wellness huddle' or 'team office hours' during the week in which they offer more informal emotional support and processing, vs utilizing the IDG meeting for that.

     

     

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

    KPNW Interim Palliative Care Operations Manager

    NHPCO Bereavement Professional Committee Chair and MyNHPCO Executive Committee Member

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

    Cell Phone: (503) 312-0819
    Main Office: (503) 499-5200 or (800)448-0838

    Fax: (503) 499-5535

    Upcoming PTO: Monday September 7th – Friday September 11th 2020

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