These last two weeks are unlike anything we have faced in generations. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the hospice leaders and healthcare professionals throughout the nation who are working tirelessly to support their patients, families, staff, volunteers and community members during this extraordinary time. As we face this crisis together, there is great comfort in knowing we can reach out, share ideas and support one another. That’s just what the CHN affiliate hospice leaders have been doing.
When we formed CHN, we envisioned the opportunity to share best practices, create cost management strategies, and leverage economies of scale. We imagined a larger collective comprised of exceptional nonprofit hospices ready to contract with Medicare Advantage payers and serve a growing seriously ill population. I don’t think any of us predicted how important this network would be during this time of Novel Coronavirus.
During the last two weeks the clinical leaders from our affiliate hospices have shared clinical and communication strategies for addressing COVID-19. We have also shared supplies of N95 masks and other PPE where possible. While there is still a shortage of these critical supplies, we’re proud to be collaborating to ensure that CHN members are as equipped as possible to support our communities. We are participating in our local county health conference calls and those offered by NHPCO and NPHI and, like all hospice leaders, we’re making decisions that best support our communities. Having a core group of leaders to discuss these ongoing decisions and actions with has been essential.
As we look ahead to the coming weeks and months, we know more changes will be necessary. Many of the cost saving strategies that we have implemented and are currently developing will be more important than ever. As leaders, we must consider the crisis in front of us and navigate the challenges ahead of us. Now is the time to be considering your participation in CHN. There is strength in California nonprofit hospices weathering this storm together so that collectively we are poised to thrive in the future.
Let’s talk about how membership in CHN can help us all succeed during these challenging times. I wish good health to you and yours.
Best,
Jan Jones, RN, BSN
Chief Executive Officer
California Hospice Network
jjones@cahospicenetwork.org
