New Free Program from HEN: Understanding Hospice Scrutiny
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Prognostication in End of Life (1197):  presented by Janet Bull, MD, Prognostication is both an art and a science, and learning the necessary skills to predict life expectancy is vitally important to determine hospice eligibility. In this presentation we will discuss the four different pathways leading to death, and the role of nutritional, cognitive and functional status that contribute to decline.  We will examine the different prognostication tools that are available to use in decision making.  The role of co-morbidities and secondary conditions will be discussed.  We will take an in-depth look at the most common disease states and examine the evidence basis for prognostication compared to current LCD policies.

Advanced Symptom Management (1198):  presented by Janet Bull, MD, Advanced symptom management is necessary to provide the best in end of life care. In this presentation we will discuss the role cytokines and the different symptom clusters that have been identified.  We will discuss treatment options of both clusters and individual symptoms based on the evidence in the literature. A framework of addressing treatment of symptoms based on their etiology will be explored, as opposed to a shotgun approach.  Symptoms including fatigue, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, constipation, dyspnea, delirium, and terminal restlessness will be covered. Bowel obstruction and spinal cord compression will also be discussed.

Loss, Grief & Faith: A Guide for Professionals (1122): The Rev. Dr. Kathleen J. Rusnak, The bereaved, who believe in God, often deny themselves the natural response to loss, grief. For others, the death of a loved one can prompt a deep crisis in faith. This presentation will help you-the professional caregiver-when faced with bereaved clients whose loss raises grief dilemmas. Professional caregivers who have a religious faith must suspend their own belief/faith assumptions to be of help, while those without a faith tradition must remain confident that they can be of help.

Advantages of Strength Based Assessment with Hospice Patients (1095): presented by Doug C. Smith, M.Div., M.A., M.S.  This program shows how we can revitalize and empower our clients through strength-based assessments. Examples of strength-based assessments are given with several case examples.

Being Wounded Healers: Helping Ourselves and Others Find Meaning in Suffering (1096): presented by Doug C. Smith, M.Div., M.A., M.S.  The presentation shows how our own woundedness and the woundedness of our patients can provide us with opportunities for growth: providing an alternative perspective to our culture's emphasis on hiding from pain, avoiding suffering, and ignoring death.

Client Centered Care Plans with Minimal Paperwork (1097): presented by Doug C. Smith, M.Div., M.A., M.S.  This program shows how we can have care plans with minimal paperwork and maximum client-centeredness, as we simultaneously produce many measurable outcomes and address the needs and concerns of Medicare and JCAHO, giving us more client contact and therefore more billable hours.

Tools, Tools and More Tools to Help the Grieving (1098): presented by Doug C. Smith, M.Div., M.A., M.S.  This program focuses on practical tools to use with people experiencing grief and anticipatory grief. The program begins with a short outline of some important basic assumptions in applying the tools as well as an explanation of important information that needs to be gathered from clients to assess their suitability for certain tools.

Virtual Dreams: Getting Clients to Open Up Quickly and In Depth (1099): presented by Doug C. Smith, M.Div., M.A., M.S.  This program explores a technique being developed by Doug Smith and Bob Neimeyer on how to get hospice patients to talk about their serious thoughts and feelings very rapidly so caregivers can take full advantage of limited time.