Mesa, Arizona — Pacific Coast Hospice announces Mobile Credential support for Staff ID cards in Apple Wallet and Android Wallet, which brings staff the ability to add their Credential on iPhone, Android and Apple Watch. Mobile Credential support creates a seamless experience for staff by offering secure access to facilities, verified agency verification and more. Starting today, Staff will enjoy the ease and convenience of carrying their Employee IDs on their smartphones. This easy-to-use mobile Employee ID badge program was engineered to provide a digital copy of an employee’s secure ID badge and important information for facility access. Best of all, by storing credentials on your phone’s mobile wallet, the data on digital ID badges can be dynamically updated without having to re-issue a new ID card. This will allow for a secure way to provide patients, families, and facilities, important Vaccine status in real-time. Allow any of our staff to demonstrate to you the unique features of this program.
Registered Nurse is the first Pacific Coast Hospice team member to receive COVID-19 vaccine
Mesa, Arizona — Lisa was the first Pacific Coast Hospice frontline health care worker in Arizona to receive the COVID-19 vaccine today as Maricopa County Public Health opened its COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Gilbert. Following her overnight shift as a triage nurse at Pacific Coast Hospice, Lisa pulled into the drive-through vaccine lane at 10 a.m. at Chandler Gilbert Community College. Lisa has worked at PCH since founding and said she feels honored to receive the vaccine. After completing the 15 minute observation period, Lisa reported, “It felt just like the flu shot.”
Dignity Health, which operates multiple hospitals in Arizona, is assigned by the county to vaccinate health care workers and at-risk first responders in the southeastern part of the county. The county has designated five sites across the region for distribution of the first phase of the vaccine, primarily to health care workers. Health care workers and first responders have already started answering questions about their job roles and exposures to COVID-19 so that an algorithm can prioritize them from highest to lowest risk. Individuals will be notified when it’s their turn to schedule appointments for the two doses. According to the county’s vaccine distribution plan, “Phase 1A” from December through early 2021 is geared toward health care workers, emergency medical services and long-term care, assisted living, hospice and skilled nursing facility staff and residents.
Arizona Dept. of Health Recommends Approval of Pacific Coast Hospice for Medicare
Mesa, Arizona — We’re excited to announce that Pacific Coast Hospice has passed our Federal Medicare Survey with no deficiencies! The CMS San Francisco Regional Office has accepted the State’s recommendation for approval and Pacific Coast Hospice is now Medicare Certified.
When an organization receives a deficiency-free survey you can expect high quality of care. It means that, during a hospice’s most recent inspection, surveyors found no deficiencies in patient care, services, or the environment of care.
Inspections like this are conducted by the Arizona Department of Health Services in accordance with strict guidelines set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. These surveys evaluate areas including policies and procedures, patient care, quality of care, medication administration, medical records, sanitation, staff competencies, equipment, safety, and the overall wellness of the program. Surveyors arrive unannounced and, over period of several days, observe care and procedures and check records for compliance to regulations on care, confidentiality, cleanliness, patient rights, and quality of services. The survey process also includes interviews with patients, patients’ family members, and Hospice staff.
Receiving a deficiency-free is an impressive accomplishment for any healthcare organization. It demonstrates that all services provided at the agency meet or exceed state and federal standards. It is a distinguished rating that takes an entire team’s effort to achieve. We are incredibly proud of the staff at our agency.
We would like to thank our staff, and the staff at the Arizona Department of Health Services, for their time and efforts in approving our program!
Open Letter to Governor Ducey
Mesa, Arizona — Pacific Coast Hospice joins leading Arizona providers in co-signing an Open Letter to State Leadership.
Dear Governor Ducey,
Since the reopening of Arizona’s economy, our health risk has drastically increased. The sad fact is that nothing has changed regarding COVID-19 since the Stay at Home Executive Order was put into effect on March 31. Since the Executive Order was lifted, many Arizonans believe something has changed, and it is somehow now safe to resume normal life. Sadly, this is far from the truth. There is no vaccine and no treatment for COVID-19, and it is just as contagious now as it was last month or the month before.
We write to urge you: Please issue a state-wide mandate requiring universal masking in public for those 2 years old and above. There is sufficient, clear, scientific evidence that wearing masks is one way to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and thus would reduce both the wave of severely affected patients requiring ICU and ventilator resources as well as unnecessary deaths.
The following references strongly support universal masking:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468042720300117?via%3Dihub [sciencedirect.com]
Our healthcare system is becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 and we need your help and partnership in mitigating this disease spread. We cannot simply “learn to live with” a disease that is devastating entire communities. We believe that universal mask wearing is ONE very effective and important strategy to continue the fight against COVID-19. Keeping the economy going while maintaining universal masking and social distancing is a win win situation for every member of the community regardless of political views in that it balances economics with public health.
The entire health care community is not the only group of people greatly concerned about protecting our community. Greater Phoenix Leadership is made up of leading Valley CEOs who aim to align leadership and resources at the intersection of the business, education, philanthropy and public policy sectors to improve economic vitality and quality of life. This amazing, well-educated group of business leaders found masking so important they addressed ASU and encouraged mandating masks on campus. ASU is now, for many reasons, requiring all individuals on campus to wear masks.
There are so many reasons this simple act of wearing a mask can help the greater good. A mask decreases harm and protects the community in the same manner as requiring passengers to wear seatbelts in a car, forbidding texting while driving, outlawing jaywalking and requiring life vests on a boat. By wearing masks, we can curtail a huge surge of COVID-19 cases in Arizona and reduce unnecessary mortality in our community.
In addition, the mitigation of COVID-19 in the community will also allow those with other necessary hospital needs to be cared for in a timely manner, adequately and without added risk.
Please stand up and help educate as well as protect those who do not understand just how vital universal masking is at this critical time. Help communicate to all Arizonans that it is out of respect for others, respect for humanity, respect for our great country, respect for our businesses and respect for the American way of life that mandating mask usage for a time period is essential.
Please stand with the frontline healthcare workers who risk their lives to care for COVID-19 patients every day. We encourage you, Governor Ducey, to follow the scientific data that shows that universal masking decreases the spread of COVID-19 and mandate masks in the state of Arizona immediately for individuals 2 y/o and above, while continuing social distancing, in order to not only decrease the number of unnecessary deaths but also allow our businesses to remain open.
Sincerely,
Pacific Coast Hospice (Provider)
Pacific Coast Hospice Joins AHPCO
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“We are honored to serve alongside AHPCO,” said Lisa Hunt, Executive Director. “We are committed to ensuring that all hospice providers, for-profit and nonprofit alike, have the necessary resources to increase quality and improve patient and family experience. Hospice is about bringing healthcare to wherever the patient calls home; which hospice has been doing for over forty years.”
Kate Gagne, Representative from APHCO, welcomed Pacific Coast Hospice, “…we would like to once again express my appreciation for your membership in AHPCO. It is through the support of our members that we are able to continue to provide public education on hospice and palliative medicine, monitor legislative and regulatory actions affecting end-of-life care in Arizona and provide quality educational opportunities for our members and caregivers. Together we are developing effective strategies for advancing quality end-of-life care in Arizona.”
Lisa Hunt joined Pacific Coast Hospice in 2019 to lead the company’s startup. She previously was the Chief Compliance Officer for a Regional Hospice Company. Prior to that, she served in Management roles with VistaCare and Hospice of the Valley.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Pacific Coast Hospice Joins FirstNet® – Public Safety’s Communications Platform Built by AT&T
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Mesa, Arizona — Pacific Coast Hospice, provider of end-of-life care, is the first approved Arizona hospice provider to be connected to FirstNet – the nationwide broadband network dedicated to public safety. The company’s access to FirstNet enables Pacific Coast Hospice employees to use the highly secure and reliable communications tool for patient care and assistance in any circumstance while in the field.
FirstNet is designed to improve communications across public safety entities nationwide, allowing first responders to communicate with one another easily and quickly during everyday situations, big events or emergencies. This capability is integral to solving communications roadblocks that previously have been imposed on public safety agencies and first responders.
Pacific Coast Hospice joined FirstNet because of the support the company provides to hospitals for both patient care and emergency preparedness. Pacific Coast Hospice serves as an extended primary user—an organization or agency that could be called on during an emergency response to help support public safety. Eligibility for extended primary user status is rigorously reviewed before service is approved to help ensure that FirstNet’s unique capabilities remain dedicated to first responders and those who support them.
“We are pleased to join FirstNet and be given the opportunity to serve our patients quickly, efficiently and securely,” said Lisa Hunt, Executive Director of Pacific Coast Hospice. “We applaud AT&T for the development of this innovative program and for their dedication to public safety.”
Pacific Coast Hospice joined FirstNet to provide its care providers with reliable, modern communications tools needed to provide high-quality patient care, including:
- One communication platform that allows efficient and effective coordination of emergency responses across agencies and jurisdictions.
- Always-on priority and pre-emption for first responders and the ability to uplift other supporting agencies to provide reliable access to network connection when it’s needed–even when the network is congested.
- A physically separate, highly secure network core purpose-built for public safety’s sensitive communications.
- Planned increases in coverage and capacity, enabling caregivers to better respond to emergencies.
- Innovative tools–like relevant applications and connected devices–to provide more actionable information for heightened situational awareness.
FirstNet is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority). It’s designed for public safety.
To learn more about FirstNet, go to FirstNet.com. Individual first responders can subscribe to FirstNet at a local AT&T store.
FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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Pacific Coast Hospice Recognized as a We Honor Veterans Partner Level Two
Mesa, Arizona—It may surprise many people to learn that 25 percent of those who die every year in the U.S. are Veterans. To help provide care and support that reflect the important contributions made by these men and women, Pacific Coast Hospice has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As a We Honor Veterans Partner, Pacific Coast Hospice will implement ongoing Veteran-centered education for their staff and volunteers to help improve the care they provide to the Veterans they proudly serve. The nation is seeing many of the Veterans who served in World War II and Korean pass away—and the number of deaths of Vietnam Veterans is beginning to rise.
The We Honor Veterans campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for Veterans. “Partners” can assess their ability to serve Veterans and, using resources provided as part of the campaign, integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to Veterans into their organization. By recognizing the unique needs of our nation’s Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, Pacific Coast Hospice is better able to accompany and guide Veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending. And in cases where there might be some specific needs related to the Veteran’s military service, combat experience or other traumatic events, Pacific Coast Hospice will find tools to help support those they are caring for.
“We thank Pacific Coast Hospice for partnering in the We Honor Veterans program,” says NHPCO President & CEO Edo Banach. “We Honor Veterans partners are committed to providing quality Veteran-centric care to the Veteran patients they serve. They understand how a Veteran’s military service, combat experience or other traumatic events, could impact their end-of-life experience.”
The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of health care staff caring for Veterans. To learn more about We Honor Veterans or to support this important work via a secure, online donation, please visit www.wehonorveterans.org.
“VA shares a common goal with our nation’s hospices, and that is to provide the best possible care specifically tailored for Veterans, meeting their goals of care in their preferred setting. As we focus on working together and unite our services and skills, We Honor Veterans will channel our combined strengths directly to Veterans – wherever they are receiving care,” added Banach.
Arizona Dept. of Health Approves License for Pacific Coast Hospice
Mesa, Arizona — We’re excited to announce that we’ve just completed our initial licensing survey by Arizona Department of Health Services and that we’re able to begin serving the community. We’d like to thank our Surveyor, as well as the entire Medical Facilities Licensing team, for working with us expeditiously during this time of COVID-19.
Public Notice: Visitor Moratorium
Mesa, Arizona — Public notice: Upon guidance from public health officials, we have instituted a moratorium on non-essential guests and visitors to our office until further notice. We kindly ask that you contact us via our website pchusa.org or by telephone at (480) 637-4100.
Everyone can do their part in preventing the spread of illness! Please visit cdc.gov to learn more about what you can do in your community.
Thank you and a special thanks to all of the members of the community working on the front lines.
Public Statement Regarding COVID-19
Mesa, Arizona — At this time, Pacific Coast Hospice facilities do not have a confirmed case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus. At no time have our emergency operations been disrupted, and we continue to provide all levels of care to our community. Pacific Coast Hospice has taken all appropriate and necessary precautions for the safety and well-being of our community. In compliance with our infectious disease protocols, we will remain vigilant and continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Arizona Department of Health guidelines.
To contain the spread of a contagious illness, public health authorities rely on many strategies. Two of these strategies are isolation and quarantine. Both are common practices in public health, and both aim to control exposure to infected or potentially infected persons. Both may be undertaken voluntarily or compelled by public health authorities. The two strategies differ in that isolation applies to persons who are known to have an illness, and quarantine applies to those who have been exposed to an illness but who may or may not become ill.
Isolation refers to the separation of persons who have a specific infectious illness from those who are healthy and the restriction of their movement to stop the spread of that illness. Isolation allows for the focused delivery of specialized health care to people who are ill, and it protects healthy people from getting sick. People in isolation may be cared for in their homes, in hospitals, or in designated healthcare facilities. Isolation is a standard procedure used in hospitals today for patients with tuberculosis (TB) and certain other infectious diseases. In most cases, isolation is voluntary; however, many levels of government (federal, state, and local) have basic authority to compel isolation of sick people to protect the public.
Quarantine refers to the separation and restriction of movement of persons who, while not yet ill, have been exposed to an infectious agent and therefore may become infectious. Quarantine of exposed persons is a public health strategy, like isolation, that is intended to stop the spread of infectious disease. Quarantine is medically very effective in protecting the public from disease.
While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat: It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
We are working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat.
For further information about 2019 COVID-19 please visit the CDC website at: