Palliative Care Provider Highlight : Ochsner Health ( continued )
Ochsner Health achieved a Level 2 Age-Friendly Health System status by integrating the 4Ms model for geriatric care into clinical practice . The LA-GWEP team created a 4M Smartphrase within the OH Epic Electronic Health Record ( EHR ) system that efficiently presents the 4M data in a format accessible to all providers , facilitating system-wide utilization and encouraging deeper conversations and collaborative efforts among interdisciplinary clinical teams involved in patient care .
Shaping the Future of Palliative Care In 2023 , the Ochsner Palliative Care Department achieved significant milestones , demonstrating their unwavering dedication to providing top-notch patient care . They proudly earned The Joint Commission ' s Gold Seal of Approval for Palliative Care Certification , making them the sole palliative care team in Louisiana to attain this esteemed recognition .
The team ' s dedication extends to reshaping community-based palliative care with services available during a hospital stay or as an outpatient at most Ochsner locations throughout Louisiana . Since 2018 , Ochsner has developed 9 inpatient programs and 5 community clinics . Attention has been given to not only expanding locations but developing the internal scaffolding of the teams to support serious illness care .
Ochsner Health ' s Palliative Medicine Team is taking strides to extend its influence beyond the hospital walls . Leveraging telehealth capabilities , the team aims to provide tele-palliative care visits , this not only ensures continuity of care but also allows the team to reach patients in need , wherever they may be .
The Palliative Medicine Team is actively exploring opportunities for consultation in post-acute spaces such as Skilled Nursing Facilities ( SNFs ), custodial nursing homes , Assisted Living , Acute Rehabilitation Hospitals , and Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals ( LTACH ).
The team is developing upstream ACP conversations , akin to " smoking cessation " consultations , they are striving to create a culture of proactive end-of-life discussions .
The team is dedicated to the training of tomorrow ’ s clinicians as the team provides real time clinical education to every internal medicine resident , fellows undergoing training in oncology , nephrology , and pain management , as well as 4th year medical students from the Ochsner / University of Queensland Medical School .
This commitment starts from the beginning , as all Ochsner providers undergo Respecting Choices Shared Decision Making for Serious Illness training within their first year . The department coordinates and trains residents , interns , Neuro CC & HM providers , and Case Managers across the system , amplifying their impact . Collaborating with Ochsner Performance Managers , they ' re extending their reach into areas like ED , Hospital Medicine , Cardiology to align strategic goals with patient-centric care , reduced readmissions , and enhanced patient quality of life . There have been 223 participants , including Chaplains , Social Workers , RNs , and Leaders , and 116 Case Managers already trained in Respecting Choices Advance Steps over the last 10 months , as well as 178 physicians and APPs trained in Respecting Choices Shared Decision Making for Serious Illness .
Lastly , the team is also in the development phases of starting its own hospice and palliative medicine fellowship training program .
The Ochsner PM team has even contributed to establishing a national training pathway at CAPC for medical students , fellows , and residents . With a focus on education , they ' ve curated numerous training pathways at CAPC for onboarding , continued education , and specialty rotations .
Ochsner Health ' s Palliative Medicine Team ' s innovative spirit and comprehensive approach are not only transforming patient care within the institution but also have the potential to create a ripple effect across the broader patient-centered healthcare landscape .
Spring 2024 | Issue 11 | Page 3
O c h s n e r H e a l t h P a l l i a t i v e M e d i c i n e T e a m M e m b e r s