Andy Arwari MD MS FACP SFHM FAAHPM HMDC’s Post

"If you wait for someone to tell you that end-of-life is approaching, it might be too late for you to act in alignment with your priorities. This is why it’s important to be proactive and have the discussion early—even if it seems too soon, and even if the odds are high that you’ll be cured." The author of this article emphasizes the need to educate yourself about the kinds of end-of-life care available to you. At Heartlinks, you can choose palliative care or hospice care. You can learn more about both at https://bit.ly/42YgSMO or read this short and helpful article: https://bit.ly/4cNx0Eq

Thank you Hospice News for allowing us to highlight the GUIDE Model. In this story, Dr. Bethany Snider discusses the transformative potential of the GUIDE Model in palliative care, stating, "This model is a game-changer for our patients, enhancing their quality of life." Learn more about this innovative approach in the full article: https://lnkd.in/euim9shU

I really appreciated this in depth article on things to keep in mind. The points on palliative care are so important. I review this with all my clients and ask these types of questions during consultations. Often, this is the first time people are truly thinking about this. If you are thinking about these things, no matter your age, for yourself or your loved ones, call my office to set up a time to meet with me. #eatateplanning #endoflifecare #hospice #elderlaw #probate

Jim Parker at Hospice News wrote a great piece on the challenges faced by chronic #kidneydisease patients—particularly the lack of advance care planning and access to palliative care—and highlighted how our team at Koda Health is addressing these critical issues. Patients on #dialysis face adjusted mortality rates four times higher than age-matched non-dialysis #Medicare beneficiaries. Yet, many patients don’t have the tools to make #informeddecisions about their care. At Koda Health, we’re changing that. Our Kidney Actioning Tool allows patients to plan their care early, we help align medical decisions with their values, improve outcomes, and reduce costs. Tatiana Fofanova, Ph.D. summarizes this best: “Chronic kidney disease is a patient population that needs a lot of support. In advance care planning, the presumption is that it’s something that’s done only towards the end of life, but advance care planning is just the act of planning your care in advance, and we realize that that can be applicable to a lot of different scenarios. By going upstream, we’re able to help patients get access to higher quality care that’s aligned with their goals, values and the quality of life preferences many years before they approach that end-of-life event.” Read the full article to learn more:  https://lnkd.in/ghAeWB2q

A great read from Patient Pathways Healthcare Navigation & Advocates on how the understanding the distinction between palliative care and hospice is crucial for patients, families, and healthcare providers. 💡#PalliativeCare focuses on alleviating symptoms and stress associated with serious illnesses, aiming to enhance quality of life at any stage of the disease. 💡 #Hospice care is specifically designed for end-of-life situations, providing comfort and symptom management during the final months. 👉Recognizing these differences ensures that individuals receive appropriate care tailored to their unique needs. https://ow.ly/GIPp50UcSc9

Palliative Care should be introduced at the very start of treatment for any chronic or life-limiting illness because it enhances quality of life. Once patients understand the value of Palliative Care, they wish they had accessed it sooner. Palliative Care doesn’t take away - it brings hope and options. #palliativecare #goalsofcare #CEOofYourLife

In the shadowed corridors of #bureaucracy, the cries for reform in #kidney disease management and organ procurement echo unanswered. The time to challenge this stagnant system is now. This isn't just a plea; it's an urgent call for advocacy, a rallying cry for everyone affected by a system that should protect but often fails its most vulnerable. Imagine a tapestry, woven with threads of hope, desperation, and resilience. Each thread represents a life touched by kidney disease—hundreds of thousands enduring the relentless churn of #dialysis, and thousands more waiting for transplants, their lives hanging in the balance. This tapestry is marred by gaps, torn by the inefficacy and indifference of those who hold power over our healthcare system. Organizations like Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Fresenius Medical Care, DaVita Kidney Care, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), U.S. Renal Care, Dialysis Clinic, Inc. are supposed to safeguard patients. Yet, these industry titans often act as gatekeepers, prioritizing profits over patients. It's time to demand transparency and #accountability. We must confront the executives who preside over these giants, urging them to stop perpetuating policies that harm those they are meant to protect. Your silence and complacency endorse this broken system. Liking or celebrating posts isn't enough. We need your voices, raised in unison, to break the walls of indifference. Reshare this message, amplify the call for reform, and encourage your connections to join this cause. One day, you or a loved one might stand at the brink of kidney failure, desperately needing the advocacy you chose not to support. The hour is late, but not too late. We stand on the edge of a #revolution, demanding a democratization of our healthcare system. This is a fight for justice, dignity, and life itself. Let us not let other diseases overshadow the harsh reality faced by those with kidney #disease. Our fight is noble, our cause just. Let's raise our voices, not in whispers, but in a chorus demanding change. #KidneyReformNow #VoiceForChange #HealthcareDemocracy #EndKidneyFailure #AccountabilityInHealthcare #HealthcareJustice #OrganTransplantReform #StandUpSpeakOut #Livingorgandonation #Organdonation #KidneyDsease #ChronicKidneyDisease #Advocacy #ChronicDisease #Leadership DonateLife National Kidney Foundation Kidneytrails PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT CHRONICDISEASE #REPOST

Trigger warning on anorexia nervosa. This is a thought-provoking article that I would encourage hospice providers to read.... with an opportunity to take this lens: How do you view this diagnosis, severe enduring terminal anorexia nervosa, as "different" than any other terminal diagnosis? While I appreciate the key issues addressed in this article, I can't help but wonder how much better would we serve these human beings if we dropped our own narrative that this is not an acceptable way to die. Or why is this sometimes considered not an acceptable disease to seek comfort care for? I often question: If there are terminal sequela of anorexia nervosa (e.g. congestive heart failure, profound gastroparesis), why do we perseverate on this diagnosis or etiology? Would we find so much personal discomfort in a hospice decision if their end stage congestive heart failure was from hypertension? Hospice is designed to palliate the suffering associated with a terminal illness. Let's address the challenges so very well highlighted below without our own bias on if anorexia nervosa is an acceptable terminal diagnosis. Mental health suffering is increasing in this country. I choose to address it, as best I can, without bias and with compassion.

Did you know that palliative medicine is much more than care for terminally ill people? It's a misunderstood and underutilized field that offers comprehensive support for end-of-life scenarios and chronic conditions that impair quality of life. Palliative care focuses on relief from symptoms, pain, and stress—whatever the diagnosis. Its goal is to improve the quality of life for the patient and the family, often alongside curative treatment. Dr Anand S Sarkar unpacks this misunderstood and lesser-known branch of healthcare in this new article. https://lnkd.in/dRsK5NPx #PalliativeCare #Healthcare #MedicalField #PatientCare #QualityOfLife 🩺✨ Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with palliative care in the comments below! 📬

Morphine: A Misunderstood Medication Physicians and caregivers work to clear up myths about powerful end-of-life drugs Being with a loved one as their days wind down can be a painful, profound and poignant experience for family members. Their sorrow can be compounded by confusion and fear about the heavy-duty narcotics that are routinely administered to keep the dying patient comfortable. Physicians and others who work in hospice want to lift the veil on end-of-life medications to better prepare patients and families for their use. These drugs are widely considered helpful in managing pain and facilitating the so-called "good death" that hospice offers. The goal of hospice is to improve life at the end of life. Good pain-symptom management is one of the most primal things people want then. Morphine and strong opioids are key tools we have to make that happen…” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/giKgKHg6