Rural Doctors Need More Support than Ever
National Doctor's Day
National Doctor’s Day is celebrated annually March 30th. This is a great time to remember the value of physicians throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Doctors throughout our coverage area provide countless valuable services, and do all they can to help patients get better.
Rural Doctors Face Challenges Too
But many of those doctors face challenges that need to be addressed soon. For rural doctors, an individual practice can be “just not sustainable,” due to the increased paperwork, decreased reimbursement, and surge in workload. A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services illustrates that 20 percent of the American population live in a rural area, but only 10 percent of physicians work there.
That creates difficult decisions for those physicians. They typically see more patients than urban doctors, but often can’t spend as much time per patient. With reduced staff, they must do much of the mounting paperwork themselves and face long hours. Add in the declining reimbursement rates for insurances, such as Medicare and the problem will continue to grow.
Recent efforts to grow the number of rural doctors have failed, a recent study in Health Affairs revealed. There are programs in place, similar to the Kansas Bridging Plan, a loan forgiveness program for doctors who agree to practice for three years in rural areas. In North Carolina, rural doctors can receive some loan forgiveness or even a service bonus of $50,000 for a 4-year commitment in high needs areas.
There needs to be more done. Rural doctors need higher reimbursement rates from insurance companies, and other measures are also on the table. Rural doctors must be appreciated through the long-term and not just on National Doctor’s Day. Providing an incentive for them is not only an investment in their practice, it is an investment for all who live in those areas.
Simple Gestures Make Major Impacts for Hospice Patients
National Patient Recognition Week
Liberty Hospice recently celebrated National Patient Recognition Week by handing out roses to all of its patients. It has become a tradition for us, and to see the smiles and gratitude that patients and their families express reminds us what an impact a small gesture can do.
That’s a good reminder for anyone who has a loved one in hospice care. Any kind of gesture can make a big impact. We have helped coordinate other kinds of surprises for our hospice patients, from a puppy to a shopping trip, to a ride on a horse. Those moments have helped rekindle a favorite memory, while at the same time creating a new one.
Many people don’t know where to start, but sometimes the best gesture you can do for a loved one occurs even before hospice care begins. By talking to your loved one about hospice care, and its many benefits, you can build a valuable communication that can educate them, as well as yourself, on what is right for your family. If you’re not sure how to start that conversation, feel free to contact us to learn how to explore the conversation.
Honor Patients
Once your loved one begins hospice care, there are many different ways to honor them. Our staff is always looking for ways to help. Our chaplains may sing with them, or our volunteers may help them write a story. There are many ways we honor our hospice patients, but many times, the involvement of a family member makes those events even more meaningful. Sometimes, just seeing a family member is just as impactful for the patient.
You may not believe you are prepared for such visits, but our volunteers, social workers, and other staff can counsel you through it all. We understand there are new, difficult emotions that come with hospice care. We also realize how hospice care improves the quality of life for patients and for their families too. Let us help you get started.