“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” 
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In our July issue, we highlighted our Coalition’s statement to take specific antiracist action and to address implicit and unconscious bias within hospice and palliative care delivery and the profession itself.
                                                                                      
                                   Rev. Inetta Reddell, MBE, MACS, MDiv, BCC           Rev. Dr. Jeffery T. Garland, DMin, EdS, BCC               
During our Coalition meetings these past two months, we were fortunate and deeply humbled to hear from representatives from Coalition Members and liaisons from the Association for Professional Chaplains who shared their personal and professional experience with racism and implicit bias. I want to thank Rev. Inetta Reddell, MBE, MACS, MDiv, BCC and Rev. Dr. Jeffery T. Garland, DMin, EdS, BCC for their honest, transparent and candid perspectives and personal reflections about their specific experiences with the insidiousness of institutional racism and stories from their fellow BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) colleagues, friends and family members. The impact of white silence and complacency at maintaining the status quo – in our workplaces, health care institutions or in our nations police precincts must end.

Based on our continued discussions among our members, the Coalition is committed to the integration of diversity, inclusion and equity within the work of the Coalition and are now actively working to make space for the voices of those who have been historically unheard due to structural racism or bias. The twin epidemics of COVID-19 and structural racism has laid bare the undeniable health inequities in our nations.

Where do we go from here?

"It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world, but you are not free to desist from it either." 
--Rabbi Tarfon, Pirke Avot 2:21

We recognize this work is long overdue, not easy, and will require dedicated and multi-faceted commitments and resources.

In the short term, our Coalition pledges to: 

• Assess our current strategic priorities and projects to insure our work holds to the standards of diversity, equity and inclusion as we continue to ensure that patients, families and caregivers who need it will have access to quality hospice and palliative care;
• Recruit and seek BIPOC leaders and individuals within the Coalition for leadership and speaking opportunities;
• Seek diverse voices and representation for external nomination opportunities;
• Work together to define actionable and specific diversity, equity and inclusion goals
• Survey our membership and review work currently underway in the field in this area.

                                

• American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) will serve as a new organizational representative on the NQF Coordinating Committee,
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization will serve on as an organizational representation on the NQF Post-Acute Care/Long Term Care Committee,
• Dr. Sean Morrison, Director, National Palliative Care Research Center, chairs the NQF Hospital Workgroup, and
• Many subject matter experts (nominated by the Coalition) will serve on the NQF Palliative and End of Life Standing Committee.

 

1. The adequacy and appropriateness of symptom management – particularly pain; and
2. The experience of feeling heard and understood by the palliative care provider and team.