“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.”
Every good Southern woman knows the famous line from the movie Steel Magnolias.
It means the hard times are supposed to make us better. More resilient, more self aware. Ready for the next big challenge when it comes at us. Better at what we do and who we are.
There are lessons I hope we’re learning as hospice professionals in the middle of this pandemic. Hard lessons about our patients and the care we provide. Lessons about ourselves as clinicians and as humans.
We should be learning not to take things for granted. Learning to be grateful, and to pull as part of a team. Learning to be part of a national work family and to look with respect on the hospice industry’s leadership.
gratitude for every patient and family that still need (and will allow) in-person visits
gratitude for aides, chaplains, and social workers who have been temporarily set aside
gratitude for connections with facility staff where our patients reside
gratitude for leadership and representatives who strive to keep us updated and protected during this time of waivers and changes
gratitude for every phone contact, FaceTime call, and Zoom meeting that helps us to do our jobs
I hope we’re better when this is all over. The whole idea is to emerge stronger on the other side of a time of trial. I don’t think things will ever be the same as they were. There are changes to our rules and regulations that might stick. Agencies will have new processes that will become ongoing routines. Goodness knows every hospice team member will have a greater appreciation for infection control programs and hand washing.
And could hospice professionals be even stronger than just the care we provide? How about respect for other agencies and other providers across the healthcare continuum? We could have a new understanding of the policies that guide our processes, and an awareness of where our weaknesses are. More accountability and fewer mistakes would be nice.
We can be stronger after all this is over.
I encourage hospice interdisciplinary teams to look forward. Look for the good in what’s going on. Look for the good in each other, and in yourselves. Be alert for opportunities to learn. Use this time to grow yourselves and to take care of each other.
Going through this challenging time isn’t going to kill the hospice industry. And it will definitely make us stronger.
Just remember – no matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.