The Carolinas Center (TCC) is the leading voice for quality end of life care in the Carolinas, representing an extensive number of hospice and palliative care providers in North and South Carolina. Don’t miss out on their 2022 Annual Convention!

(From HCCI) During National Minority Health Month, the Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI) has launched a new free course entitled, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Home-Based Care.”

This on-demand course, supported (in part) by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, addresses the complex and multifaceted topic of health equity by discussing power and privilege, implicit and explicit bias, inferred cultural preferences, and more, which are especially relevant for providers working with patients and families in their home. “As a country, we are still learning how to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas, but especially in healthcare,” said HCCI faculty member and course author Amanda Tufano, MHA, FACHE, CMPE, Chief Executive Officer at Genevive. Tufano also shared that health disparities can lead to higher mortality, lower life expectancy, a higher burden of acute and chronic conditions, and higher mental illness prevalence. She also explained they can impact access to quality healthcare.

The course, designated for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, provides guidance in developing and implementing best practices for culturally sensitive care in the home environment and within the workplace. While the course targets home-based primary care (HBPC) providers and those interested in HBPC, non-clinical staff members can also benefit from understanding implicit bias as they support interactions with patients and caregivers (such as scheduling or billing), while those in leadership will learn how to better engage and retain high-performing, diverse teams.

“There is sometimes hesitancy to learning about or discussing topics that make us uncomfortable, such as addressing biases,” Tufano said. “But this is a real opportunity to step into the shoes of another, make new connections, and find understanding in others’ lived experiences. This online course gives learners an outlet to explore these topics with a focus on home-based primary care.”

“DEI is a complex issue that requires a broad and multifactorial approach,” said Margaret Cordes, MPH, Director of Education at HCCI. “This course offers a way into having more challenging conversations about the topic. It also encourages learners to have an organizational mindset by engaging the entire team as well as the patient caregivers. Various perspectives are explored using HBPC scenarios, including understanding the power dynamics of providing care in the home, familiarization with patient customs and cultures, and DEI initiatives for employee recruitment and retention for HPBC practices.” Click here for more information and to register for this free course.

Congress is considering including telehealth waiver extensions in the upcoming omnibus funding package as soon as next Tuesday!

The SC Respite Coalition has announced voucher and training opportunities. Continuing reading to find out more!

Several bills are on our radar, including ones pertaining to medical marijuana, a statewide health information exchange, and pediatric DNR.

Marisette Hasan facilitated a great webinar titled Faith, Hope, Trust, and Advocacy in collaboration with C-TAC, NHPCO, and NPHI. The recording of the webinar is now available.

The Conversation Project is holding a community call on February 16 to plan for National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).