New resources, outreach effort highlight PCHPCA annual report

The Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association has released its annual report to the community, relaying that it accomplished much in 2022 both for Putnam County and to strengthen itself as an organization.

In addition to ongoing programs and activities, highlights of the past year include the following:

1. Grant funding in the amount of $21,000 was received from the Putnam County Commissioners through the American Rescue Plan Act. This funding is restricted to the purchase of free Vital Medical Information File materials for the community.

These were purchased for 6,250 Vital Medical Information Files at a cost totaling $22,733.66, which exceeded the grant award by $1,733.66 and was covered by other PCHPCA funding. The organization distributed nearly 1000 Vital Medical Information Files in 2022.

2. The PCHPCA developed a new free resource folder and materials for seriously ill patients and their caregivers. These folders are intended to be a tool for health care providers when introducing hospice and palliative care to a patient and/or their family, as well as a resource for caring for a seriously ill person.

The organization began distributing the folders in November. Forty-seven folders have been distributed so far, and a positive initial response to the information offered has been reported.

3. Monthly remote advance health care planning lunch-and-learn opportunities were initiated last May. These occur on the second Wednesday of the month via Zoom.

4. The organization took an opportunity to participate in Project Talk, an initiative of the National Institutes of Health that seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of different instruments in persons completing advance directives.

5. The PCHPCA’s website was enhanced by increasing the visibility and clarity of its navigation buttons, providing direct access to advance directive forms and to content packaged in the Vital Medical Information File.

6. In October, the PCHPCA offered two remote workshops on the Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) form to local advance care planning conversation facilitators and members of the health care community. Five persons attended the workshop on Oct. 14, and two attended on Oct. 18.

7. Representatives of the organization made 18 community presentations to various audiences in 2022. Survey results indicate that audiences generally found the presentations valuable.

More in-depth information can be found by visiting the PCHPCA’s website in the news section at https://pchpca.org/index.php/about-pchpca/news-events#, or by using the attached QR code.

The Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association seeks to enhance the quality of life for the terminally ill, their loved ones and caregivers by educating the community about the benefits of hospice, palliative care and advance care planning.

The PCHPCA is a nonprofit public charity that operates with the help of donations, financial support from the Putnam County Community Foundation and fiscal sponsorship by Putnam County Hospital.