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The landscape of healthcare is ever-evolving, and can be quite difficult, particularly for independent small-town providers. In the midst of these adjustments, GOE IPA, Inc., Growth, Opportunity, Evolution, shows promise for central and upstate New York hospice care. This coalition, formed by eight rural hospice organizations covering 12 counties, works to improve care quality through cooperation and resource sharing. It also seeks to provide comprehensive, compassionate hospice care by encouraging collaboration. By sharing operational services, achieving more favorable contracts, creating administrative capacity, and lowering overhead costs for individual hospices, GOE IPA helps these organizations continue to serve their communities effectively. This summer, I had the opportunity to work closely with this organization and the hospices involved, witnessing firsthand the profound impact of their mission.

Before starting my internship with GOE IPA, my understanding of hospice care was limited to what I had read in books and seen online. I knew it was an essential service for those nearing the end of life, but I had little idea of the intricacies involved in providing such care, especially in rural settings. My initial days were spent familiarizing myself with the organization’s mission and the challenges faced by their member hospices. One of the most eye-opening experiences was shadowing two social workers during their visit to a patient. This hands-on experience allowed me to see the compassionate side of hospice care. I accompanied them to their home, where I witnessed the deep connections they had with the patient and the family. The visit was more than just professional duties, they were moments of sincere care and support. In addition to attending to the patients' medical requirements, the social worker also offered them emotional and psychological support—a benefit that textbooks are unable to adequately describe. Apart from seeing the social worker, I attended some of the IPA meetings on Zoom, where delegates from participating hospices convened to deliberate on tactics, exchange optimal methodologies, and investigate approaches to tackle shared obstacles. These gatherings served as an example of the effectiveness of teamwork. Despite the challenges they had, I could see how dedicated and enthusiastic each member was about what they did and how determined to enhance hospice care.

My work this summer was solely focused on how data from multiple hospices can be used to improve overall hospice care quality and performance. I worked on a project involving data from eight hospices: Hospice of Chenango County, Mountain Valley & Palliative Care, High Peaks Hospice, Hospice & Palliative Care Inc., Hospicare, Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, Hospice of the North Country, and Hospice of Jefferson County. With help and cooperation from members, I collected data from each hospice, such as hospice item set (HIS) data, staffing ratios, patient care from this hospice (percentile ranking), length of stay (LOS) in 2023, survey return rate (CAHPS), and so on, ensuring consistency and compiling it into a comprehensive spreadsheet. I analyzed the data to identify trends and areas for improvement, developing a performance plan to enhance quality. The analysis highlighted significant variations in patient care quality. High-performing hospices showcased best practices, while lower-ranked hospices identified areas needing improvement. High-performing hospices will be used as a benchmark for the lower-performing hospices. Key findings included gaps in hospice services in rural areas, increased utilization in underserved areas, and variations in patient engagement. My recommendations included improving survey engagement, learning from successful hospices, conducting cost analysis, and regular reviews to ensure continuous improvement.

This experience directly complimented my interest in community health and my academic pursuits in working towards becoming a healthcare provider. It provided a practical application of my studies, allowing me to engage with real-world data and issues. Through this project, I deepened my understanding of healthcare disparities and the operational challenges faced by hospice organizations as they work to ensure every patient receives the dignity and care they deserve at the end of life. Additionally, I developed skills in data analysis, project management, and community engagement, which will be invaluable in my future career.

Furthermore, I use this medium to thank the Upstate Institute for this opportunity because this experience has increased my interest in working for non-profit and community-based organizations. I have always been passionate about serving the greater cause of communities and contributing to making a real difference in people's lives. This opportunity has also demonstrated to me the significant influence that targeted, community-based initiatives can have, and it has strengthened my desire to work in non-profit organizations and community-based projects so that I may continue to advocate for and support underserved populations.