Wissahickon Hospice of Uphs

DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023, WISSAHICKON HOSPICE PROVIDED UNCOMPENSATED CARE, COMPRISED OF CHARITY CARE AND THE PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS, TOTALING $2,786,199 AND $3,023,660 FOR 2023 AND 2022, RESPECTIVELY. WISSAHICKON HOSPICE PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. TOPICS INCLUDE ISSUES RELATED TO END OF LIFE CARE WITH ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS. OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, SYMPOSIA, INFORMATIONAL AND REFERRAL SERVICES, WEB BASED RESOURCES, AND AUDIO AND VIDEO PROGRAMMING. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023, WISSAHICKON HOSPICE PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS TO PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC AT LITTLE OR NO CHARGE: > COMMUNITY SUPPORT/SERVICES: - VOLUNTEER SUPPORT AND SERVICES - INITIATED "NO ONE DIES ALONE" PROGRAM- VOLUNTEERS IN ATTENDANCE FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE NO FAMILY OR CAREGIVER AT THE END OF LIFE. - INITIATED VOLUNTEER PROACTIVE CALLS TO CHECK ON PATIENTS AND FAMILIES. - VETERANS CELEBRATIONS: 129 VETERAN PACKAGES DELIVERED HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED - VETERAN's PROGRAM EXPANDING TO INCLUDE DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH THE VA IN PROVIDING INFORMATION FOR VETERANS ON HOW TO ACCESS THEIR VA HEALTH BENEFITS. - CAKE DRIVE: REMEMBERING PATIENT/FAMILY SPECIAL EVENTS WITH HOMEMADE AND BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED CAKES. 71 CAKES DELIVERED. - HOUSE PLANTS: DELIVERED TO PATIENTS AND FAMLIES AS A GIFT AND TO SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS COMING INTO THE HOME-OCCURS QUARTERLY, 43 PLANTS DELIVERED - VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED KNITTED PRAYER SHAWLS, AND HADMADE FIDGET SQUARES, AS WELL AS HAND MADE CARDS SENT FOR THINKING OF YOU, BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAYS, AND VETERANS DAY. - COMPANIONSHIP VOLUNTEERS: OVER 237 UNIQUE VOLUNTEER VISITS MADE TO COMMUNITY HOSPICE PATIENTS FOR COMPANIONSHIP AND/OR CAREGIVER RELIEF - LAST WRITERS: IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PERELEMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, MED STUDENTS PRODUCED MEMOIR FOR PATIENT FAMILIES AND THE BEREAVED. - IN-SERVICES AND EDUCATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS: 4 PRESENTATIONS PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEERS OF THE ORGANIZATION TO BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR SUPPORTING PATIENTS ON SERVICES. TOPICS INCLUDED THE MAID ACT, ROLE PLAYING WORKSHOP AND VETERAN'S END OF LIFE CARE. - CONTINUE TO SUPPORT VET TO VET PROGRAM - VOLUNTEER VETERANS VISITING WITH VETERANS RECEIVING HOSPICE CARE. - ACHIEVED LEVEL IV, MOVING TOWARD LEVEL V IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024 OF THE NATIONAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARES'S "WE HONOR VETERANS" PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO SUPPORT VETERANS AT THE END OF LIFE, ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SERVICE, AND CONNECT THEM TO THE VA TO ACCESS BENEFITS. THE PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOME CARE PATEINTS IN AN EFFORT TO HELP VETERANS CONNECT TO ENTITLED SERVICES THROUGH THE VA PRIOR TO THE END OF LIFE. - CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT - CAMP ERIN PHILADELPHIA PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONNECT AROUND THEIR SHARED EXPERIENCE OF LOSS AND GRIEF, WHILE PARTICIPATING IN REGULAR CAMP ACTIVITIES.ALTHOUGH 75+ CAMPERS WERE REGISTERED FOR A FULL WEEKEND CAMP, THE CANADIAN WILDFIRES CAUSED THE SHORTENED CAMP WEEKEND AND CAUSED MANY FAMILIES TO NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND. THE CAMP SUPPORTED 53 CAMPERS FOR A 1 DAY, 1 NIGHT CAMP. - PRODUCED VIDEOS SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S GRIEF FOR ACCESS BY FAMILIES REMOTELY WHO WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND OTHER PROGRAMMING. - THE DAVID BRADLEY CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM IS A VALUABLE AND UNIQUE COMMUNITY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN AND TEENS AT NO COST TO THE FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM'S LICENSED PROFESSIONAL - COUNSELOR PROVIDES CONSULTATIVE SERVICES FOR THE CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE A LOVED ONE WITH A TERMINAL ILLNESS OR HAVE EXPERIENCED A DEATH OF THEIR LOVED ONE. - PART OF THE MISSION OF THE DAVID BRADLEY CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION AND PROVIDE METHODS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR EMOTIONS. - OUR WEBSITE WAS UPDATED TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS FOR CAREGIVERS OF CHILDERN AND YOUTH ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONAL READINGS. - CREATED A DAY-BY-DAY HEALING CALENDAR FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVER. 124 CALENDARS WERE DISTRIBUTED. - COMMUNITY BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM: ESTABLISHED IN 2021 FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT ON SERVICE WITH PENN MEDICINE HOSPICE BUT EXPERIENCED A LOSS AND NEEDED ADDTITIONAL SUPPORT. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE UP TO 3 ONE ON ONE COUNSELING SERVICES, SUPPORTIVE EFFORT TO CONNECT PARTICIPANTS TO ADDITIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES FOLLOWING INTERVENTIONS IF DESIRED BY PARTICIPANT. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ROUTINE MAILINGS WITH COPING STRATEGY'S FOLLOWING LOSS, ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY GROUP SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND MEMORIAL SERVICES. - COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT GRIEF AND LOSS WERE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO THE COMMUNITY FREE OF CHARGE. SPECIAL PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED DURING DIFFICULT HOLIDAYS, SUPPORTING GRIEVING CHILDREN AND ADULTS DURING THE HOLIDAYS. - SUPPORT GROUPS INCLUDE: SPOUSAL LOSS, A YOUNG ADULT CREATIVE ARTS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP, A GROUP FOR CAREGIVERS OF GRIEVING CHILDREN, AS WELL AS A GROUP FOR THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF A PARTNER. - VIRTUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE: OFFERED OVER A YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND EXTENDED TO HOSPICE, HOMECARE, PALLIAITVE CARE, HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME FACILITIES. THE MEMORIAL SERVICE PROGRAM WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR VEIWING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. - OFFER BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS > EDUCATION: - PROVIDED HIGH RELIABILITY TRAINING TO ALL PENN MEDICINE AT HOME DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS FOCUSING ON SAFETY, COMMUNICATION, DATA MANAGEMENT, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY. THIS TRAINING WAS PART OF THE HEALTHSYSTEMS OVER ALL GOAL. PENN MEDICINE HOSPICE WILL CONTINUE THIS TRAINING WITH A GOAL OF REACHING ALL FRONT-LINE STAFF BY THE END OF FY24. - PATIENT SATISFACTION GROUP LAUNCHED THE WEBSITE CALLED CAREGIVERS CORNER, WHICH IS A SERIES OF 21 SHORT FORM VIDEOS THAT OUTLINE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE HOSPICE PROCESS. IN THE FIRST 5 DAYS OF SERVICES, CAREGIVERS AND PATIENTS ARE INUNDATED WITH INFORMATION FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, SOMETIMES NOT BEING ABLE TO RETAIN ALL THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE CONVERSATION. THESE VIDEOS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT THE INITIAL VISITS AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW INFORMATION AT A CAREGIVER/PATIENT LEVEL. - SHORT FORM VIDEO SERIES, "TRY THIS": THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO SHARE TIPS WITH CLINICIANS FOR IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND USE OF VARIOUS SKILLS BY CLINICIANS FOR CLINICIANS OUT IN THE FIELD. SHORT VIDEOS, APPROX 1-2 MINUTES IN LENGTH, COUPLED WITH SIMPLE FLYERS FOR REVIEW ARE PROVIDED TO CLINICIANS TO VEIW AT THEIR OWN TIME AND WITHIN TEAM MEETINGS. SOME OF THE TOPICS INCLUDE: AIDET ACRONYM -(ACKNOWLEDGE, INTRODUCE, DURATION, EXPLAIN, THANK), TIPS ON HOW TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION -VERGAL AND NONVERBAL TIPS, KEYS TO ACTIVE LISTENING, DOORR ACRONYM-DATE, OUTLINE, OTHERS, REQUESTS, REMIND, HOW TO SHOW THEM YOU CARE, HOW TO ENSURE THE CAREGIVER UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, TIPS ON PATIENTS WHO DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEIR MEDICINE, TIPS ON HANDLING CONFLICT, HOW TO BE A CALMING PRESENCE WHEN YOU HAVE AN ANXIOUS PATIENT. - SWITCHBOARD TEXT MESSAGING: THE SWITCHBOARD IS A PENN MEDICINE PROPRIETARY PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS THE ORGANIZATION TO SEND TEXT MESSAGES DIRECTLY TO CAREGIVERS/PATIENTS AND PROVIDE REAL TIME EXPERIENCE BASED ON SURVEYS. THE SURVEYS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AS WELL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK. THE RESPONSES TO THE SURVEY GO TO A WEB BASED PORTAL THAT TEAM MANAGERS CAN REVIEW ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE PORTAL ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO CONCERNS RAISED IN THE RESPONSES. - PROVIDED MENTORHSIP/PRECEPTING (10 MONTH PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY) TO UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MSW STUDENTS. -16 SW CEU'S GIVEN ON CHRONIC ILLNESS APPROVED THROUGH UNIV OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK TOPICS: 2 CEU'S -END STAGE RENAL 2 CEU'S -END STAGE CARDIAC 2 CEU'S -NEORUOLOGY 2 CEU'S -ONCOLOGY 2 CEU'S -PULMONARY 2 CEU'S -SERIOUS ILLNESS: NAVIGATING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS 1 CEU - SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH APPROVED THROUGH NASW (IPDS COMMITTEE) 1 CEU- NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAYS APPROVED THROUGH PA STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORKERS (IPIDS COMMITTEE) 1 CEU-AGING IN PLACE 1 CEU-CUIDED IMAGERY - INFORMATION SESSION OFFERED BY ELDER CARE ATTORNEY (TOPIC: END OF LIFE CONVERSATIONS: THE INTERFACE OF LEGAL, MEDICAL AND ETHICAL REALITIES) - INFORMATION SESSION WITH PHILADELPHIA HOARDING TASK FORCE - ON GOING COORDINATION WITH VA AND INFORMATION SESSION WITH OUTREACH COORDINATOR. - CHAPLAINS HOSTED PALLIATIVE CARE FELLOWS TO SHADOW THEM WHILE PROVIDING SPIRITUAL SUPPORT TO PATIENT'S IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM TO GIVE THEM A MORE INDEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF INCORPORATING SPIRITUALITY INTO MEDICAL CARE. - INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDED TO NURSING STUDENTS FROM SEVERAL LOCAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE AREA. - FULL TIME FACILITY EDUCATION COORDINATOR HIRED TO SUPPORT STAFF OF AN AREA NURSING HOMES FOCUSED ON EDUCATION OF THE STAFF ON HOSPICE, CAREGIVER AND GRIEF BURNOUT.