Submitted by Hospice of Cincinnati
Hospice of Cincinnati has joined hospices nationwide in becoming accredited by the National Institute for Jewish Hospice (NIJH), making it the only NIJH-accredited hospice in Ohio.
The accreditation was earned after Rabbi Hanan Balk, HOC Board Certified Chaplain, noted that his sister had chosen a hospice organization for their father in St. Louis without consulting him. When asked how she had made her decision, she answered, “It was a no-brainer; they are Jewish accredited.” Rabbi Balk had never heard of such accreditation. He reached out to NIJH and contacted numerous hospice organizations across the country that were similarly accredited to determine whether this would be a positive step for Hospice of Cincinnati. He suggested the idea to his supervisor, Patty Daum, Manager of Psychosocial and Spiritual Services, who shared it with Senior Leadership.
Daum, along with Chava Vidal, Registered Nurse/Clinical Coach, attended the NIJH 40th Accreditation Conference in New Jersey in November. The NIJH conference brought together people from hospices across the country in related fields, including rabbis, administrators, chaplains of all faiths, psychologists, nurses, bereavement counselors, and social workers, for an intensive day of sessions. The conference featured leading voices in the field who lectured on and discussed all aspects of hospice care and the Jewish terminally ill. Part of the commitment to accreditation is training all patient-facing team members through a competency program designed by NIJH. To date, Hospice of Cincinnati has trained more than 500 team members, and this training has become part of the standard onboarding process for new employees to support sustainability. Each year, HOC will participate in the accreditation conference to refresh knowledge and learn of any changes to the program. All patient-facing team members at HOC will also receive this same training from NIJH through an online program.
In achieving NIJH accreditation, Hospice of Cincinnati continues its mission to provide competent and compassionate care for all populations. Staff have been trained and educated in many areas of Jewish culture as it pertains to end-of-life care. This sensitivity will help Jewish patients receive the best possible care, with a commitment to provide needed resources and connections within the Jewish community to any patients who need them, including kosher food in the Blue Ash Inpatient Unit.
Recently, Rabbi Balk delivered two lectures on “The Jewish Perspective on Suffering” to more than sixty staff members, while also leading a tour of Weil-Kahn Funeral Home and explaining Jewish rituals after death. One HOC chaplain, Raven Rowe, was assigned to provide care for a Jewish patient residing in a long-term care facility. The patient had no family, and her guardian was an attorney. She was deeply loved by the facility staff, who wanted to ensure that she received meaningful and dignified care after death.
Chaplain Rowe recognized that the patient would be cared for by Weil-Kahn Funeral Home and took the opportunity to share with the staff the beautiful traditions that would honor the patient’s faith, including preparation of the body by the Chevra Kadisha (Burial Society). As the staff learned about the tender, respectful, and compassionate care that would be provided, they were deeply moved. Knowing that the patient would be cared for in a manner consistent with her faith and traditions brought tears to their eyes and provided great comfort during a difficult time.
Taking pride in hiring a diverse workforce, Hospice of Cincinnati helps provide a physical presence for Jewish patients seeking guidance or wanting to ask questions. The accreditation links Hospice of Cincinnati with NIJH, which provides staff training, insights on treating Jewish patients who are terminally ill, and access to consultative resources and education about Jewish customs and practices that may arise while caring for a hospice patient who is Jewish.
“We congratulate Hospice of Cincinnati for earning this important accreditation,” said Rabbi Yitzchok Young of NIJH. “Hospice of Cincinnati is now part of a database of accredited hospices to which NIJH will refer patients, families, and rabbis when they seek the best care for the Jewish terminally ill.”
NIJH was established in 1985 to help alleviate suffering in cases of serious and terminal illness. Its 52,000 members comprise business and professional leaders and a consortium of endowing foundations. NIJH serves as a resource and educational center for hospices, hospitals, family service organizations, medical organizations, and all health-care agencies, educating them about the issues and challenges of serving the Jewish terminally ill.
Hospice of Cincinnati works together with religious organizations and their leadership to ensure that all end-of-life needs are met. To learn more about Hospice of Cincinnati, visit their website.
