In the News
Physicians Push For More Palliative Care Despite Barriers
November 15, 2011
By: Jessica Marcy
A poll released Tuesday found that an overwhelming majority of doctors support palliative care, with 96 percent responding that they believe enhancing the quality of life for seriously ill patients is more important than extending life as long as possible. Despite these sentiments, many physicians responded that they have some hesitations about palliative care and that there are barriers to its full adoption.
Notably, the poll, released by National Journal and The Regence Foundation, also found a dramatic “generation gap” in physicians’ education and training on palliative care. Seventy-three percent of physicians age 39 or younger report “a great deal” or “some” exposure to palliative care during medical school compared to 36 percent of those age 40-49, 23 percent of those age 50-59, and only 6 percent of those age 60 or older.
Speaking at a National Journal event Tuesday, oncologist and bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel, who currently teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, called upon the medical community to push for even greater…click here to read the full article.
Hospice Compassus Launches Industry Quality Care Initiative
November 2011
By MELANIE KILGORE-HILL
End-of-life issues typically aren’t the focus of healthcare reform, but one local company is hoping to change that. Brentwood-based Hospice Compassus, which operates a nationwide network of 50-plus community-based hospice programs, has launched a national campaign to improve quality care and patient outcomes for the 1.5 million Americans in hospice care each year.
“Keeping the Promise 2012”
“Keeping the Promise 2012” is a national effort to achieve delivery of the highest possible quality care to hospice patients. Launched in September, the initiative calls for healthcare professionals to actively measure and collect data as it relates to patients’ pain levels and the education they receive regarding medication, treatment and symptoms. Hospice Compassus voluntarily began tracking these and other indicators in January 2011 to measure its performance against self-imposed quality standards.
“This is a really important step in the industry,” said Corina Tracy, senior vice president of Clinical Services for Hospice Compassus. “However, it’s only effective if we’re willing to look at gaps in the system and take it one step further. We’re asking everyone to step up to the plate, not only by educating their staff but by reaching out to the community and to other healthcare professionals.”
Hospice and Medicare
“Keeping the Promise 2012” comes months before the release of hospice quality measures set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — the predominant source of payment for hospice care. Beginning in 2014, hospice programs, like other managed care industries, will be required to publicly report on their measures....click here to read the full article.
MT|SHRM and the
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Announce 2011 HR Excellence Award Winners
NASHVILLE, TN: (May 26, 2011) – Hospice Compassus won top honors in the ninth annual HR Excellence Program hosted by the Middle Tennessee Society of Human Resource Management (MT|SHRM) and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Winners will be recognized at a luncheon on Thursday, June 23, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Airport Embassy Suites.
The 2011 HR Facet of Excellence Award went to Hospice Compassus for Human Resource Strategies. Hospice Compassus is a family of community-based hospices that have a common culture based on three core values: compassion, integrity and excellence.
Launched in 2002, the HR Excellence Program recognizes organizations in Middle Tennessee with outstanding human resources programs. Businesses are invited to self-nominate for the honor each year and are evaluated on proficiency in five areas: strategy; management practices; employee education, training and development; performance measurement; and employee well-being and engagement....click here to read more.
PR Newswire
JIM DEAL APPOINTED TO MEDCATH'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
August 10, 2009
MedCath Corporation, a healthcare provider focused on high acuity healthcare services, predominately the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, today announced that James "Jim" Deal has been appointed to its board of directors. Deal is an accomplished health care services CEO. Some of his career highlights:
Since 2006, he's led Hospice Compassus of Brentwood, Tenn., co−founding a company that's become a leading hospice services provider, serving about 2,700 patients daily at 53 locations in 15 states. From 2002 to 2006, he served as chairman and CEO of INSPIRIS in Nashville, Tenn., which manages the healthcare of the frail elderly. Deal transformed the business model of the company and made it profitable. He served as president and CEO of the Center for Diagnostic Imaging in Minneapolis for three years, expanding same store growth and using existing cash flow to triple the number of locations. He spent 15 years as president of Diabetes Treatment Centers of America, helping grow the company into one of the nation's leading providers of disease and care management services in the country. He's served as a CEO or executive at....click here to read more.
CLP Healthcare Services Changes Name to Hospice Compassus
Brentwood, Tenn. … APRIL 2, 2009 … CLP Healthcare Services, Inc., a leading provider of hospice services, announced today it will change its name to Hospice Compassus to better reflect the all-encompassing hospice work performed across the company’s nearly 50 locations in 15 states. The new name captures the company’s core values of compassion, integrity and excellence while maintaining a community focus and belief that each person’s end-of-life journey or grief process is individual and distinctive. Hospice Compassus remains committed to providing quality service, comprehensive end-of-life care and grief support to patients with life-limiting illnesses, their families and their health care team. The name change transition is expected to be completed by May 15, 2009. “The new name was chosen as it reflects our core mission and encapsulates.....click here to read more.
THE TENNESSEAN
FOR-PROFIT GROUPS BEGIN TO DOMINATE END-OF-LIFE CARE
April 19, 2009
By Getahn Ward
Cathy Bastoky has experienced a sea change in her life since her terminally ill husband, Jay, began receiving end-of-life care in their Smyrna home earlier this year. Six days a week, someone from a team that includes a nurse, hospice aide, social worker and chaplain sent by http://www.avalonhospice.org. Hospice comes to provide services such as checking Jay's vital signs, brushing his teeth or just being there to listen. "It's helped me mentally and physically," said Cathy, caregiver to...click here to read more.
