Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care provides patients access to two inpatient hospice houses in the Kansas City metro area. The patients carry a wide range of diagnoses, including noncancer diagnoses such as stroke, CHF, dementia, sepsis, and renal failure, among others.

Kansas City Hospice House in south Kansas City is a 32-bed acute inpatient hospice facility, as well as a 16-bed acute inpatient hospice facility that provides services for the patient in the north Kansas City area. The patients carry a wide range of diagnoses, including non-cancer diagnoses such as stroke, CHF, dementia, sepsis, renal failure among others.

During training, the fellow gains in-depth exposure to acute pain and symptom management, management of the natural dying process, and counseling for patients and families dealing with end-of-life issues. The fellow will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, chaplains, music therapists, pharmacists, dietitians and others. The fellow will follow patients on "Acute" (GIP) and "Residential" (Routine) admission status during their rotation.

Collaboration with staff

The fellow will make daily rounds during the week, interacting with the nurses, advanced practice nurses, care assistants, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, music/art therapists, and dietary on an ad hoc basis as clinical needs arise. Many of these informal interactions form the basis of acute, timely clinical care. These staff will be encouraged to collaborate with the fellow as learners and as teachers. The fellow will learn how to work with and eventually lead an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), which is a crucial skill to develop while caring for patients. 

Patient and family interactions

Family meetings are held as needed with the fellow, attending, social worker, patient and family in attendance. Every other week the IDT meets formally for two hours to discuss patients and families. The fellow will be present to review patients along with the rotating attending and will gain skill in the necessary documentation of the hospice medical director. The fellow will be expected to have a firm understanding of the patient's medical issues, will collaborate with the IDT to elucidate any psychosocial issues to be addressed, and will serve as leader for these meetings as the year progresses and the fellow develops skill.

Hospice IDT

The fellow will attend Tuesday morning hospice house IDT which is held every other week. In addition, the fellow will attend the long-term care hospice team IDT meeting on Wednesday afternoons when they are on KCHPC based rotations. The IDT will be comprised of a team manager, social workers, a chaplain, nurses (RN and LPN), care partners, and medical records. This experience affords the fellow a better chance to learn more about the administrative duties of a hospice medical director. The fellow will communicate with the patient's primary attending if a major change in medical orders is indicated. The fellow will also communicate with the long-term care facility staff, including the patient's primary physician and the director of nursing as necessary to ensure excellent clinical care.