On December 9th, the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), known as the national voice for not-for-profit hospice and palliative care providers, announced a cross-industry cardiac care initiative. Read on to learn more about the exciting new developments at Hospice of the Piedmont!
What is the Cross-Industry Cardiac Care Initiative?
Heart patients are at a higher risk of complications and death, and heart disease is responsible for one in four deaths in the United States. Yet many patients have been avoiding treatment due to a fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
The cross-industry cardiac care initiative was designed to help improve access to proper cardiac care by allowing hospice and advanced illness providers to offer quality primary care in the patient’s home. Hospice of the Piedmont is proud to be one of the providers supporting the cross-industry cardiac care initiative, which will be released in 2021.
What Does This Mean For Our Patients?
You’ve heard that right. Hospice of the Piedmont is proud to offer cardiac care for patients dealing with cardiovascular disease, starting in early 2021. New clinical guidelines and medical staff expertise make care at home the better option.
At the moment, roughly 40% of all COVID-19 related deaths are due to cardiovascular complications. However, even after the COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available, heart disease is expected to remain the number one cause of death in the United States.
Together with national and community partners, the NPHI and Hospice of the Piedmont will be working to understand the needs of patients, family members, and clinicians. Together, we’re developing evidence-based tools that will improve quality of care, communication, and costs.
Better Care at Home
By offering cardiac care at home, even for patients who are not terminally ill, Hospice of the Piedmont is helping divert emergency room visits and hospital stays often associated with advanced heart disease.
A large amount of patients prefer to receive care in the comfort of their homes—and this preference has significantly increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why we want to raise awareness of hospice and palliative care offerings in the community to improve quality and access for everyone.
The Advanced Cardiac Care Program will seek to define standards of care for end-stage heart failure, while limiting the use of inpatient and emergency services. If you have any questions about the upcoming cardiac care initiative, contact us at 1-800-975-5501 or send us an email at info@hopva.org.
