Is Hospice Care losing its soul? Dr. Ira Byock thinks so, and after months of soul-searching work, he's offering us the roadmap back to our roots.

In this episode, Dr. Ira Byock discusses the current state of Hospice and Palliative Care, emphasizing the need for reform and improvement in the field. He and Chris spend time unpacking Dr. Byock’s recently released seminal work, “A Strategic Path Forward for Hospice and Palliative Care: A White Paper on the Potential Future of the Field.

This conversation tackles the uncomfortable truth: corporatization is eroding the core values of our field. Dr. Byock highlights the challenges posed by the corporatization of healthcare, particularly in hospice and palliative care, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining high-quality care for patients and their families. Dr. Byock presents a strategic framework that all of us in hospice and palliative care can draw from to chart a path forward. That framework includes:

1. Publishing clear clinical and programmatic standards
2. Making meaningful data readily available
3. Driving quality-based competition
4. Embracing the field’s authentic brand of expert care that fosters well-being for patients and their families

This episode is more than a discussion—it’s a wake-up call for every leader, clinician, and team member in Hospice and Palliative Care. Listen now. Share it with your Board. And be part of the movement to safeguard the future of this essential work.

Guest: Dr. Ira Byock, MD, FAAHPM, is a leading palliative care physician, author, and public advocate for improving care through the end of life

Host: Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of TELEIOS

https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast/a-strategic-path-forward-for-hospice-and-palliative-care-with-dr.-ira-byock

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast