2026 Midwest Regional Conference on Palliative & End of Life Care Sessions

This informative session provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Home Care and Rehabilitative Standards will discuss the hospice regulation and survey process in Missouri. It will include statistics, most frequently cited deficiencies, and plan of care development. It will provide attendees with survey forms and tools, give real life examples of deficiencies, ideas for an individualized plan of care and tips to ensure success with your next survey.

This presentation explores the evolution of palliative care through the integration of artificial intelligence and innovation while preserving the core principles of compassionate, patient-centered care. As healthcare continues to advance, concerns remain about whether technology may replace the human connection that is central to palliative care. This session demonstrates how AI serves not as a replacement for clinicians, but as a tool to enhance care delivery by reducing administrative burden, identifying patient risks earlier, improving workflow efficiency, and supporting clinical decision-making. Participants will explore current AI applications in palliative and chronic care management, review outcomes related to patient monitoring and readmission reduction, and discuss how technology can strengthen, rather than diminish, the compassion and presence that define quality palliative care.

Live discharge in hospice presents growing complexities. Learn best practices to improve transitions, ensure equipment coverage, reduce risk, enhance patient experience, and strengthen operational performance.

How can end-of-life doulas and hospice teams work together to enhance comfort, dignity and holistic support for patients and families.

Legal documents shape every end-of-life story. This session equips care providers with practical knowledge to recognize, understand, and act on the legal aspects of end-of-life care. Participants will explore key legal documents commonly encountered in hospice and palliative care settings, including healthcare directives, powers of attorney, and DNR orders. The session will also address decision-making authority, capacity concerns, family disagreements, and effective communication strategies for discussing legal planning with patients and families. Through real-world examples and practical guidance, attendees will gain confidence navigating the legal framework that supports quality end-of-life care.

The Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Training equips participants to recognize suicide warning signs, engage supportive conversations, and connect individuals in crisis with appropriate life-saving resources.

The passage of Illinois Senate Bill 1950, signed into law on December 12, 2025, made Illinois the first Midwestern state to legalize medical aid in dying (MAID). This presentation introduces Missouri hospice leaders, clinicians, and staff to the legal, operational, and ethical landscape of MAID through the lens of Illinois's experience — and the practical steps Missouri organizations can take now to prepare for potential future legislation. Participants will examine key provisions common to many state MAID laws, including eligibility criteria, attending physician responsibilities, and conscience protections for both individual clinicians and health care entities. Beyond compliance, this session emphasizes fostering tolerance and mutual respect among staff with differing views, so that compassionate, consistent care remains the standard regardless of organizational policy.

The CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey and HOPE (Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation) tool are now integral to hospice quality assessment. This presentation explores pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies for managing common end-of-life symptoms and effective communication techniques to improve patient comfort, caregiver support, and CAHPS and HOPE outcomes.

Abstract: Evidence from states where MAID is legal consistently show that a high percentage of individuals who pursue MAID have elected hospice care. This session will provide an opportunity for hospice programs to discuss the many policy considerations, operational practices and plans for staff education that may need to be implemented should MAID become legal in your state. Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants: Will be able to identify considerations related to policy development regarding hospice program and staff participation for patients who want to pursue MAID; Will be able to identify possible impacts of participation or nonparticipation with MAID on their hospice programs; Will be able to identify operational considerations of MAID related to staffing and compliance with state and federal law; Will be able to identify topics to include in staff education and where to obtain educational resources.

The stakes for hospice quality performance have never been higher. This session explores key quality metrics, regulatory scrutiny, and data-driven strategies to improve outcomes, reduce risk, and position agencies for future success.

Practical strategies to transform hospice physicians from passive participants to engaged team leaders, improving collaboration, compliance, efficiency, and patient-centered care.

This creative and engaging session will provide participants with practical, low-tech activities to engage hospice clinicians and transform education into interactive learning experiences. This session will also include a guided walkthrough of a low-tech, low-budget end-of-life simulation that can be easily implemented in hospice organizations without specialized equipment or extensive resources.

The newly introduced Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI) is a significant measure for hospice providers. This session explains how the SSVI is calculated, what data drives scores, and practical strategies to monitor performance, reduce risk, and improve outcomes in response to increasing CMS scrutiny of fraud, waste, and abuse.

Concurrent care hospice, where veterans receive hospice while receiving ongoing treatment for their terminal illness can create new challenges for hospice but can be rewarding and cut down on last minute referrals. Cases presentations of successful implementation of concurrent care will review the potential impact of hospice to help cases of cancer, CHF and CKD. Additional challenging cases in small group format will allow open discussion of challenges and shared experiences will help inform best practices. Specific statutory language relating to Medicare payment for hospice and VA coverage will be reviewed.

This session examines how a hospice collaboration with an Organ Procurement Organization supported the development of an innovative, interdisciplinary pathway designed to increase awareness of tissue donation and strengthen identification, communication, and coordination across the hospice agency. The presentation will outline the steps taken to establish the collaboration, integrate donation awareness into routine hospice workflow, and implement tools that promote consistent donor recognition and referral practices. Participants will review practical strategies to enhance team communication, improve confidence in donation related conversations, and support patient and family wishes in an ethically grounded manner. First year outcomes will be presented to demonstrate how structured processes contributed to improved donor identification and successful tissue recoveries.

Music therapy is a cost-effective, evidence-based allied health discipline with enormous potential benefits for hospice patients, their families, and hospice organizations, although it is often under-utilized in standard hospice care. This presentation will provide a thorough overview of how music therapists function as part of a hospice interdisciplinary team and give relevant clinical examples of how a music therapist addresses treatment needs for patients and families.

This session, From Subtle Changes to Comfort: Strengthening Hospice-Facility Partnerships, focuses on practical strategies to improve collaboration between hospice and facility teams in recognizing and responding to early, non-verbal signs of pain or distress in patients with serious illness. Using real-world scenarios, participants will explore how subtle clinical changes, clear communication, and coordinated decision-making can reduce unnecessary hospital transfers and enhance comfort-focused, end-of-life care. Emphasis is placed on proactive symptom management, interdisciplinary teamwork, and engaging families in the care process. At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to identify early non-verbal indicators of pain or discomfort, describe effective hospice-facility communication strategies, apply comfort-focused interventions when pain persists, and recognize the importance of coordination and family engagement in achieving quality end-of-life outcomes.

1. Identify key regulatory, audit, and compliance trends impacting hospice organizations. 2. Describe how compliance programs can be integrated into quality oversight, survey readiness, and organizational performance initiatives. 3. Apply strategies for incorporating key performance indicators into a streamlined QAPI program that supports compliance, improves outcomes, and reduces organizational risk.