Because hospice and palliative care patients are among the most vulnerable to COVID, providers have ramped up infection control efforts, according to an article on the Hospice News website.

Hospices also have had to get creative about how they help infectious patients safely maintain contact with their families.

In April, Heart of Hospice opened a dedicated COVID inpatient center in the New Orleans area that has since become a permanent facility available to patients with any terminal diagnosis, including the coronavirus. They began daily screening, weekly testing and protective personal equipment (PPE). Many providers have also struggled with the limited availability of tests and associated supplies, such as swabs, according to an earlier  Hospice News article.

Hospices have increasingly leveraged technology to keep COVID patients virtually connected with their families, using temporary telehealth technology. Striking a balance between human touch and technology has become a struggle.

Read the full Hospice News article.