Bereavement Professional

Hi all.  I didn't see any response to the previous posting about outcome measures and whether anyone is using them as a way to demonstrate the effectiveness of Bereavement Counseling.

Is anyone using them?

Hi Robin,  I believe outcome measures are important to a good bereavement program.  However they can easily be over looked in bereavement.  I am fairly new in my department and we have some, that I would consider weak and fuzzy.  I am considering looking at the FEBS program through DEYTA, but I suspect it will be cost prohibative, and I will end up overhauling our own, and solidifying when they data is collected.

Hi Robin,

I posted about two wks ago to explore what others are doing to demonstrate measureable outcomes because this was noted during our last survey. Since then I've contacted a respected colleague who says she's using the FEBS approach. I haven't replied to her yet to find out what that looks like. I'm also working with my supervisor to contact one or two of the surveyors who have worked with us in the past to get clarification.

This looks like an area where most of us feel uncomfortable trying to 'measure' the outcomes of grief. I think it begs several questions:

How well does the bereaved understand their loss vs what they didn't know prior to receiving bereavement services?

Also: What can the bereaved to for themselves that they couldn't do before?

I think the combined answers to these two questions gives us the best overall picture of how well someone copes.

Finally: How can these questions be answered in a way that satisfies the surveyors and stays w/in the scope of the COPs. It also means scaling the responses in a Most ---> Least kind of format. I'm exploring a little here and feel like I'm getting closer but would really appreciate responses from you or anyone who's chipped away at this before.

Karlyle, If your interested I'd be glad to 'chat over the fence' with you about using the FEBS survey.

Thanks to all...

Hi...Here at WVH in Oregon we have been tracking for years the "number" of mailings, phone calls, people attending bereavement activities, etc. ...none of which, to me, said anything about outcomes or the quality of the services we are providing. So starting in 2014 we will be incorporating some self assesment ratings pre-activity, during the groups, and at the end of groups as a measure of quality and outcomes.

With this change and a few others, we hope to see an increase in our positive repsonses in specific areas of the FEBS...that is the hypothesis anyway!  :) 

Happy to engage in more discussion

Marie

Hi Marie,

We are meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss our quality outcomes for this year, and I would love to have more information to share from your experience so far, if you have some?

Gwen

Hi, I have been using the Family Evaluation of Bereavement Services through NHPCO for a number of years now, probably since it was started.  While it is not a perfect evaluation, it is free of charge and easy to use.  Our inspectors were pleased to find that we were using it.  Of course, it compares our results to the national scores and that is helpful too.

Hi all,  My company, Heartland Hospice, started using the DEYTA Bereavement Survey within the past year.  As with any survey, the challenge is to have people respond.  I was pleased that the last response rate I saw posted for our office was 20%.  I would like to see it around the 30% mark.  I am not familiar with the FEBS survey, but would imagine they are similar as DEYTA compares our office to our region, our company and the overall national scores.  It is very comprehensive, and DEYTA immediately notifies us if there is a call back request or "problem" survey.  That way we can address any issues right away.  The survey is mentioned in our 13th month letter and is sent in the month following the client's discharge.

I think the idea of having people evaluate programs they attend, such as support groups, is also a good idea, as it gives the bereavement coordinator the opportunity to adjust something sooner, if need be.

From frigid Allentown, PA--Merrie MacHose, M.A.