LMHPCO Prison Hospice Project
Through a grant from NHPCO’s Continuing GRACE project, LMHPCO initiated a Prison Hospice Mentoring Project in order to support the development of prison hospice programs at facilities in Louisiana at Angola, Elayn Hunt, Washington Correctional and proposed Mississippi hospice sites at Parchman and Rankin.
The grant initially funded a 3-day hospice instructional visit of Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) officials and healthcare providers to Angola. The grant also funded registration fees for several corrections officials and healthcare providers from both states to attend the 2004 LMHPCO Leadership Conference and Pre-Conference. The remainder of the grant will assist on-going efforts to establish hospice programs in both of the above Mississippi correctional facilities, including contacting with former Angola inmates to provide inmate instructional training at the Mississippi facilities.
Although administrative changes at MDOC delayed the initial opening of planned hospice programs in the state, recent discussions have been encouraging and MDOC, along with LMHPCO hope to announce the opening of prison hospice programs at both Mississippi facilities in 2005.
VISN 16 VA-Hospice Partnership
VISNs are Integrated Service Networks, designed to pool and align local resources, to better meet Veteran healthcare needs. The VA-Medical system consists of 21 such VISNs, of which Louisiana and Mississippi are part of VISN 16 (also including, the eastern part of Texas, the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as the Gulfcoast region of Alabama and panhandle of Florida). Working with VA officials, LMHPCO is partnering to eliminate institutional barriers and improve access to hospice care for Veterans and VA clients living in VISN16.
According to the Veterans Administration: each day, 1,800 veterans die in this country and estimates that 41.7 of these deaths take place in Louisiana and Mississippi. Veterans living in VISN16 total 45,431; of which 9,265 (20.4%) live in Louisiana and 5,968 (13%) live in Mississippi.
Meeting in New Orleans, LMHPCO recently launched a VA-Hospice Taskforce, chaired by Dee Boggs. Members include: Sylvia Marcantel, David Parker, Dr. Shiva Akula, Mike Blanchard, Michele Deshotels, Julie Henry, Ramona Martin, Belinda Patterson, Amanda White, Pamela Redd, Lorraine Hardin, Cathy Hutchinson, Marilyn McKay, Sandra Bishop and Jamey Boudreaux.
Taskforce members are currently surveying LMHPCO Provider-Members regarding previous experience(s) with VA facilities in their area. Survey results will be used to assist the Taskforce and development of the VAHospice Partnership for VISN16.
Questionnaire for Community Hospices (76k Word Doc)
VA Care Brochure (800k PDF)
Coalitions provide important services and help build hospice awareness LMHPCO is actively involved in the work of these coalitions:
Louisiana Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
The Louisiana Cancer Control Partnership’s—Action Through Planning (LCCP) is a coalition dedicated to reducing cancer disparities by providing a comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated approach to the continuum of cancer control delivery beginning with prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, palliation, and survivorship through the end of life.
www.lcltfb.org
Louisiana Pain Initiative
Founded in 2003, the Louisiana Pain Initiative (LPI) is a nonprofit volunteer organization consisting of members from various medical disciplines and other healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing information regarding pain management.
The Mission of LPI is to improve the quality of life for people in Louisiana experiencing pain. LPI’s goals are to inform people they have the right to effective pain assessment and management; to provide practical information for people with pain; to educate and raise public awareness about pain and pain issues; to educate healthcare professionals regarding pain assessment and management; to develop a pain resource center; and to advocate for people experiencing pain and to affect change in the legislative arena.
www.louisianapain.org
Mississippi Family Caregiver’s Partners
Vision: All caregivers of Mississippi residents will have access to care and resources to meet their caregiving needs
Mission: Raise public awareness about caregivers and their needs, and advocate to state legislators, city and local businesses and industries about funding and resources to meet caregiving needs.
