Coming Home

Telehospice and the African American Community
Dr. Andre' L. Lee, DPA, FACHE discusses challenges in providing ready and much needed access to telehealth to multicultural groups, notably the African American community.

A common bond of shared mysticism exists between Telehospice as a growing phenomenon in the hospice industry and hospice care for the African American community as a largely unexplored territory of expansion opportunity. It is remarkable how these two synergistic segments of hospice care share a parallel thread of anonymity despite the immense value they represent to the industry. What value do they represent and how can they be congruent in purpose and outcome?

The question of “value” is perhaps the most important ingredient in this analysis because it represents the catalyst for action. In the health care business, the question of “ Value” is often intermingled with issues of quality and accessibility. Both have been question marks for African American communities. So much so that the element of ailment disparities have today become hallmarks of discussion throughout the corridors of institutional providers.

Hospice is almost held as a foreign stigmatism within the African American family structure. Most are unfamiliar with the term, much less the services available under the umbrella of this iconic industry. Telehospice offers something of practical value and one that can easily be extended to a community bounded by hesitancy. The fascination with technology and the opportunity for constant medical supervision provides a level of comfort and reassurance vitally needed by this neglected segment of our society.

Perhaps Telehospice is not a panacea for the larger medical ethical questions raised by disparities but it does provide a small, measured step in a positive direction. It also helps increase the snail like pace of the hospice industry to reach out to African Americans and other ethnic groups who represent unfamiliar and highly unique circumstances of culture and beliefs. Imagine the possibilities for extending compassionate care coupled with a deeper appreciation of differences in terminal departure. Telehospice represents the possibilities of a hospice future that is immensely colorized and more culturally sensitive.

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