Recently Published!!
by Maryclaire Torinus
Surviving Hospice: A Chaplain's Journey into the Big Business of Dying Plus: How To Find a Trustworthy Hospice
This narrative is an insider’s look into the hijacking of hospice by private equity and professional investors and the subsequent harm to patients, their families, and to the interdisciplinary clinical teams. It was released by a NYC publisher on October 31, 2023. For sale on Amazon.
The author, a hospice chaplain, tells end-of-life stories of her patients who were harmed by financially-motivated policies. This is a book for anyone who is embarking on making a choice about a hospice for their loved one, working chaplains, those in training, and those interested in what dying is like with a hospice who places patients as their primary stakeholders.
Maryclaire's experience working for an owner who sold to a private equity firm helped her to realize that the reputation and viability of hospice is in jeopardy. Her goal is to alert all who love hospice to rid it of professional investors.
— Stacy Juba, author, editor, and award-winning health journalist
"Powerful, beautifully written, and eye-opening, this book spotlights the inner workings of a multi-billion-dollar industry and the effect on patients, families, and hospice staff. The author shares poignant accounts of hospice at its best and worst and the hard-hitting truths she learned on her journey. A must-read for family members exploring hospice care."
— Laura Kukowski, CEO, editor, For-Profit Badger Hospice, LLC
"Maryclaire Torinus speaks with authority, providing this essential handbook for choosing a hospice care team and why that selection really matters."
— Greg Schneider President, HVA, co-author of The Changing Face of Hospice Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care
"When I first found out that Maryclaire Torinus was writing this book, I immediately contacted her because in my 25+ years supporting hospice volunteers, I have seen a gradual decline in the quality of care volunteers are permitted to provide the dying and their families. There are a variety of reasons for this that I describe in the Foreward of this book. Maryclaire provides invaluable insights that everyone should know, along with solutions to help others make the right choice in choosing a hospice."
Buy Now
Replies
This is excellent advise- " Incidental interaction" is a perfect way to describe it and exactly the issue that concerned me. All volunteers who go to the unit have completed all necessary training to perform both tasks.
Thanks again, I think this clears things up for us and re-affirms we will be doing the right thing!
This subtle point also has many implications as far as volunteer training and volunteer support is concerned so it is a good idea to make a clear distinction among your volunteers as to which category they fall into.
If volunteers are intended to serve both functions then they should be classified in the predominant category. The reporting requirements for supporting the hospice team are different for each category. Those volunteers serving in the Direct Patient Care role typically create intimate relationships with the patient and their family. Therefore they are privy to communications with the patient and family and can develop insights that are very useful to the rest of the team. This is the primary reason the two categories should be considered as being distinct as they serve different roles in the hospice organization.
Greg Schneider
HCF Creator
President, HVA
Jennifer Thompson, CVA
Rivercross Hospice - Tulsa, OK