End of Life Care
I am an admitted NPR fan. A day without Morning Edition or All Things Considered is a bad day, disconnected with the world around me. On Monday, All Things Considered did an amazing story regarding end of life care and how the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin worked developing dialogue with patients regarding treatment opinions at the end of life. An impressive story on how communication with patients, gives them control over their care and how doctors and allied health care professionals are able to help patients die in peace in accordance to their wishes. These informed choices help with patients, families and saves money. This is a story completely worth listening to.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120346411
I point of the story in relation to what I do is with regard to open and frank communication with patients, documenting both the education and the decisions made, and following through; with the knowledge that patients do change their minds, so the dialogue and the documentation must evolve with the patient.