Bereavement Professional

Anonymous,

YES!  I believe a healthy work culture in hospice care is possible. I have worked for three separate and incredible organizations. One for profit hospice, one non-profit hospice, and one hospice attached to a large healthcare system. Each had its own culture and over time, each had an evolution of sorts in which it changed.

As helping professionals I believe many of us are well acquainted with systems theory and like the families we support, so too are our programs systems also.  There can be some systems that feel less nurturing, safe, support and collaborative than others but I would not venture to say that all hospices are challenged in this way.  No doubt the last year has been particularly difficult in that the patients, families, staff and each system are responding to an overload of change and loss at unprecedented levels. Many of us have reflected on how that may strain and compromise some systems.

I really appreciate what Heather shared about leadership. I agree there is much value in their influence to building that culture!  I will also add that in our program we have a collective set of agreements around culture that are reviewed amongst staff and leadership and a key piece of it is how we all are on the same page: our culture is something we all own and are accountable to and responsible for it. I'm thankful we are so intentional around that and circle back to it often.

Your question comes from what sounds like a very important place: your own experience. I wonder if you are feeling that way in the specific place that you are in, but are drawn to and passionate about continuing in bereavement care, if there might be an opportunity elsewhere?

Perhaps others have worked in some places where they have left and found a positive contrast elsewhere?  I am hopeful many other voices are able to echo and add to this dialogue with experiences of healthy, supportive hospice work cultures.

Thank you for asking!

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

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it." - Hellen Keller

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

Fax: (503) 499-5535

NOTICE TO RECIPIENT:  If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are prohibited from sharing, copying, or otherwise using or disclosing its contents.  If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete this e-mail and any attachments without reading, forwarding or saving them.  Thank you.

Anonymous,

YES!  I believe a healthy work culture in hospice care is possible. I have worked for three separate and incredible organizations. One for profit hospice, one non-profit hospice, and one hospice attached to a large healthcare system. Each had its own culture and over time, each had an evolution of sorts in which it changed.

As helping professionals I believe many of us are well acquainted with systems theory and like the families we support, so too are our programs systems also.  There can be some systems that feel less nurturing, safe, support and collaborative than others but I would not venture to say that all hospices are challenged in this way.  No doubt the last year has been particularly difficult in that the patients, families, staff and each system are responding to an overload of change and loss at unprecedented levels. Many of us have reflected on how that may strain and compromise some systems.

I really appreciate what Heather shared about leadership. I agree there is much value in their influence to building that culture!  I will also add that in our program we have a collective set of agreements around culture that are reviewed amongst staff and leadership and a key piece of it is how we all are on the same page: our culture is something we all own and are accountable to and responsible for it. I'm thankful we are so intentional around that and circle back to it often.

Your question comes from what sounds like a very important place: your own experience. I wonder if you are feeling that way in the specific place that you are in, but are drawn to and passionate about continuing in bereavement care, if there might be an opportunity elsewhere?

Perhaps others have worked in some places where they have left and found a positive contrast elsewhere?  I am hopeful many other voices are able to echo and add to this dialogue with experiences of healthy, supportive hospice work cultures.

Thank you for asking!

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

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it." - Hellen Keller

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

Fax: (503) 499-5535

NOTICE TO RECIPIENT:  If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are prohibited from sharing, copying, or otherwise using or disclosing its contents.  If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete this e-mail and any attachments without reading, forwarding or saving them.  Thank you.