Bereavement Professional

We just has our accreditation survey - the surveyor didn't like that our Bereavement Plans of Care were not specific enough. Compared to how they were when I started a year ago, they are vastly improved, at least they exist now.

Does the Plan of Care have to say specific months or can it be ranges or time? For example "calls are made at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months to concluded (or extend) services" OR do use use "calls made at 1 week, followed up calls every 2-3 months, 12/13 month call to concluded (or extend) services."  

We are using NetSmart (formally AllScripts)

Thanks


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Jolene Currie
Director of Bereavement
Niagara Hospice
Lockport, NY 14094
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It would be wonderful if the accrediting agency sat down with spiritual care leaders and came up with a reasonable schedule of various things they would like to see for the 12 months. Very reasonable. Patients are all unique with different family dynamics and they all approach end of life differently. I am afraid that spiritual care will become so controlled and standardize that we will miss the heart of being present with those who need authentic emotional-spiritual connection.
Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2017 11:24
From: Jolene Currie
Subject: Frequencies on POC

We just has our accreditation survey - the surveyor didn't like that our Bereavement Plans of Care were not specific enough. Compared to how they were when I started a year ago, they are vastly improved, at least they exist now.

Does the Plan of Care have to say specific months or can it be ranges or time? For example "calls are made at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months to concluded (or extend) services" OR do use use "calls made at 1 week, followed up calls every 2-3 months, 12/13 month call to concluded (or extend) services."  

We are using NetSmart (formally AllScripts)

Thanks


------------------------------
Jolene Currie
Director of Bereavement
Niagara Hospice
Lockport, NY 14094
------------------------------

Our POC lists out every mailing and phone call scheduled as part of our standard of care. We have a file of all the bereaved addresses we send out in case we are specifically audited-- so we can prove that they were mailed. If we did not get an address, we do not add the mailings to the POC. These are all of our interventions.

Condolence card sent within two weeks of patient death
Initial phone call (the initial phone call occurs within one month for low risk, 2 weeks for Moderate risk and 5 days for High risk.)
Newly Bereaved Newsletter (sent within two weeks of death)
Contact letters, sent at 2 months and 13 months after death
Newsletters (sent April, June, August, October, December, February)
Six month phone call
Invitation to Love light tree lighting
Invitation to Remembrance (Spring and Fall)

Other individualized interventions are added for individual, in person sessions.

Hope this  helps--  

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Karla Brookreson-Owens, LMSW
Bereavement Counselor/Volunteer Outreach
Hospice of NGMC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2017 11:24
From: Jolene Currie
Subject: Frequencies on POC

We just has our accreditation survey - the surveyor didn't like that our Bereavement Plans of Care were not specific enough. Compared to how they were when I started a year ago, they are vastly improved, at least they exist now.

Does the Plan of Care have to say specific months or can it be ranges or time? For example "calls are made at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months to concluded (or extend) services" OR do use use "calls made at 1 week, followed up calls every 2-3 months, 12/13 month call to concluded (or extend) services."  

We are using NetSmart (formally AllScripts)

Thanks


------------------------------
Jolene Currie
Director of Bereavement
Niagara Hospice
Lockport, NY 14094
------------------------------