The Impact of COVID-19 for Patients Receiving Palliative Care
An interview with Heather Hartman, CNP, Transitions Home Medical Group from Dr.Kuljit Kapur We are more than seven months into a global pandemic stemming from COVID-19. While the death toll has risen worldwide, so has the number of those who have recovered from the hallmarks of the disease. As of August 24, 2020, there have been more than 23 million cases worldwide, with nearly 5.7 million of those in the United States. It is estimated that over 15 million people have recovered since statistics have been tracked. (source: Johns Hopkins, Coronavirus Resource Center) Recently, I connected with Heather Hartmann, CNP, a leader in symptom management in end-of-life and complex palliative care and hospice care with Transitions Home Medical Group, to gain her perspective about caring for dozens of COVID-19 positive patients since March 2020. How do you assess Transitions’ palliative care patients that present with COVID-19? Clinically, we monitor our patients for a fever. COVID-19 often presents with multifocal adventitious lung sounds. The chest x-rays often present with opacities, but you cannot confirm a COVID-19 diagnosis with a chest x-ray. Patients often have acute shortness of breath, fatigue and fevers that can spike. The treatment isn’t clear-cut, so we have to work with evidence-based practices. The focus is on providing hydration and treating any secondary infections like pneumonia. Having advance directives in place is critical to know the level of medical support the patient wants. How are you connecting with the families during this process? Families aren’t always able to be with their loved ones during this time due to restrictions and isolation in communities, so I’ve spent a...
Transitions Vibe Spotlight September 2020: The Financial Side of Hospice
Recently, we sat down with our Chief Financial Officer, Jim Dale, to talk about paying for hospice. With over 25 years of financial experience, Jim brings a level of knowledge that can be utilized by all of our patients, families, and referral sources when discussing hospice care. Transitions Chief Financial Officer, Jim Dale Tips from Jim: How to ensure your patients are financially informed Keep staff members informed about the Hospice benefit and services offered by care providersSchedule continued education and training from Transitions to support the entire IDT knowledge of hospice care and the coverage of services under various insurance plansProvide Information to patients and families regarding Medicare Hospice Benefits. Download the CMS informational booklet hereContact Transitions to speak with our experts about the hospice benefit or any question related to hospice care and insurance coverage Here is what he had to say about hospice payments for now, and for the future: What do you see as the biggest financial misconception of hospice care? When patients and their families initially consider hospice care, the first question they ask, along with “what is hospice?” is almost always “how do I pay for it?” That is because a vast majority of people don’t know that hospice care comes at zero out of pocket cost for those patients under the Medicare benefit, as long as eligibility requirements are met. This means that all care services, including nursing, bereavement, medications, equipment and supplies are provided for the patient throughout their entire hospice journey – at no out of pocket cost to the patient, since there is no deductible or copay for hospice...
Transitions CEO Jim Palazzo: Medicare Advantage Could Slow Private Equity Interest in Hospice
“I wanted my hospice to be designed to be as close to what a family would imagine a hospice is. I think families believe three things when they sign up for hospice, I believe they feel that they’re going to get immediate support, and they’re going to be able to drop some of the weight off their back. I think families believe that their hospice is going to be there when they need them.” – Transitions CEO and Founder, Jim Palazzo Great “Executive Perspectives” piece from Hospice News on our very own Jim Palazzo. Click the link to read Jim’s comments on our story, our growth, and the future of the hospice industry! #itsaboutliving Transitions CEO: Medicare Advantage Could Slow Private Equity Interest in...
The Transitions Vibe – July 2020 Edition
Welcome to the July 2020 edition of the Transitions Vibe—a monthly briefing filled with information for those who entrust Transitions to provide hospice and palliative care services for their patients and residents. Click here or on the image below to download and print.> If you would like to subscribe to the Transitions Vibe, click...Transitions Hospice Expands Services into Northwest Indiana
(CROWN POINT, INDIANA – July 14th, 2020) — Transitions Hospice has been approved to begin caring for patients in Northwest Indiana. This includes Crown Point, Merrillville, Valparaiso, Portage, Chesterton, Hammond, Gary, and other cities in the region. The addition grows Transitions’ presence in Indiana beyond the Indianapolis area in which they currently operate. Transitions offers the highest level of hospice and palliative care. Since its inception in 2007, Transitions has continued to grow with a patient-centered mindset. Each patient receives a customized care plan and a dedicated team of caregivers, including nurses and social workers who are available 24 hours a day. As founder and CEO Jim Palazzo puts it, “At Transitions, we are truly dedicated to the patient. We’re committed to 24/7 care wherever our patients are most comfortable, and I believe our rapid growth is a reflection of the dedication that our teams bring to each patient they serve.” In regards to the opening, Palazzo said that he is “excited to show our passion to ‘The Region’ and continue to make a difference in not only our patients’ lives, but the lives of their families as well.” Adding to his excitement, Palazzo added that as a graduate of Purdue University, he has “always wanted to extend our business into Northwest Indiana, and I am glad to say that day has finally come.” Patients and their families can inquire about hospice or palliative care in Northwest Indiana right now by visiting transitionshospice.com. If you would like more information about Transitions Hospice and other companies contained within the Transitions Group, please contact James Dale, Social Media Manager,...Our Brochures
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