Survey Study of a Hospital-Based Bereavement Program During COVID-19: Insights to Improve Support of the Bereaved

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that bereavement care is under-recognized with few hospitals offering universal bereavement services. One hundred sixty-nine bereaved individuals, whose loved ones died at our hospital during 2021 and 2022, completed a survey about their experience with the bereavement program. Of respondents who recalled receiving bereavement outreach, 79% rated speaking to a team member soon after the death as having a positive impact on their bereavement, and 75% rated receiving a condolence call or note from the team positively. Feedback also identified opportunities for improvements in care: (1) importance of compassionate communication and connection with family members after a death; (2) more flexible hospital visitation policies; and (3) additional support for families during the end-of-life (EOL) period. The findings demonstrated that a hospital-based bereavement program can positively impact an individual's bereavement experience with a formal letter of condolence, psychoeducation information, and direct outreach from team members soon after death, being positively evaluated.