People love celebrations or a reason to have fun. This is especially evident when you scan a list of observances that somebody has decided are worth celebrating. March observances include two unusual ones: Umbrella Month and Play the Recorder Month. But March also has National Pig Day, If Pets Had Thumbs Day or Make Your Own Holiday Day.

Two observances worth remembering in March for hospices are National Social Workers Month and Doctor's Day, the last Tuesday of the month.

In this issue, we offer ideas for honoring social workers and doctors. Plus we'll continue our series on helping physicians begin conversations about hospice with their patients.

Celebrate March with the knowledge spring will soon be here!

Doctors get very little formal training in talking with their patients about death. Some medical students and residents gain exposure to the hospice philosophy through partnerships between local teaching hospitals and hospices. But the vast majority of today's physicians still struggle with finding the right words when curative treatments are no longer an option. MORE >>

You still have time to celebrate the work of your social workers this month of March. Include a feature article about them in your newsletter or on your website. Surprise them with a spring bouquet of flowers with a note signed by your staff members. If they lead a bereavement group, acknowledge their work by providing refreshments for the group to share. This will help the group learn to go on living and celebrating life even while dealing with grief. Send a card to your hospital social workers recognizing the work they do or better yet, stop in to pay them a visit in March and thank them in person. Ask your chaplain to remember social workers in a regular service. Begin to collect letters or notes from family members who may have mentioned the help of a particular social worker. Then next March, surprise them with a booklet of appreciation. So often they go unnoticed because they are so good at dealing with others' concerns. Make them feel special.

Do you know that the national average for hospice staff turnover
is low for physicians and those providing bereavement and social
services?