Pallitus Health Partners’ 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

I like Dr. Spencer’s advice. I would point out that not every healthcare organization has a palliative care program. Perhaps this is where patients and families should expand their search for locally available palliative services. Does the local hospital provide palliative care? How can I access this service? Healthcare organizations should strive to ensure they have palliative care services available to their patients. Perhaps CMS should consider revising its HCAHPS survey. Instead of asking about food services, they should ask if hospitals have a palliative care service. Better yet, why not add this to the survey instead of substituting? We also need to normalize conversations about transitioning care when we arrive at end-of-life, emphasizing that we are not stopping care, just changing the goals. We cannot stop the biological clock, but we can ensure patients receive high-quality symptom management. How fortunate that we have a federal entitlement to provide end-of-life care. It's a shame we still struggle with having explicit conversations about hospice care. It's time to change that! 👇 #hospice #hospicecare #palliative #palliativemedicine #palliativecare

Only 12% of #dementia patients enroll in #hospice. #PalliativeCare is also underutilized: https://lnkd.in/ePBh-3pv Samaritan can support you through this difficult journey; from diagnosis, through primary, #palliative, and #HospiceCare.

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.

Anticipating the needs of hospice patients is crucial for providing comprehensive and compassionate care. Advanced Care Planning Symptom Management Emotional and Spiritual Support Caregiver Support Open and Honest Communication that includes what to expect with a hospice patients decline. #CHAPCA #HospiceCare #CompassionateSupport

Palliative care is shown to improve health outcomes for individuals with cancer and other serious illnesses, increase patient and caregiver satisfaction with treatment options, and reduce costs across the care continuum. 😨 But only 12% of patients who could benefit from palliative care receive services. Why?! 1️⃣ Patient misperceptions: Patients correlate palliative care with hospice/end of life care. Fear and other emotions prevent them from having open conversations about supportive care early on. 2️⃣ Clinician shortages + palliative care deserts: There are not enough board certified Palliative Care Docs in many places, especially in rural areas which widen equity and access issues. There are attempts to train oncologists to do this themselves where necessary. 3️⃣ Provider misconceptions: Some providers think they do not need a specialized palliative care team. They want to lead the conversation, they don’t see the value in investing in a specialized team, or they don’t have the resources or bandwidth to do so. You don’t know what you don’t know. We’re working to change the narrative around palliative care, by offering it as a core service offering to eligible members. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gFZZfeWu.

The importance of developing dementia friendly hospital systems, and staff, can not be emphasized enough. Statistics show that people living with dementia utilize our hospitals more than any other demographic… with environments and staff that are unable to meet their needs. Please support this initiative. @dementiatraining4life

Many patients and families regret not engaging with palliative care sooner. Robust data correlate early palliative care with higher survival rates, better pain management, lower healthcare costs, fewer hospitalizations, and improved quality of life. We need to normalize palliative care from the moment of serious illness diagnosis. Palliative care is not about "giving up"—it's often confused with hospice but serves a different purpose. Palliative care can be delivered alongside disease-directed treatments. Early palliative care facilitates crucial discussions about disease progression and patient values, easing the emotional burden on family caregivers. #PalliativeCare #Stigmas #PatientCare #QualityOfLife #AdvanceCarePlanning #SupportiveCare #SeriousIllness #SymptomManagement #PatientCenteredCare

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

Given the anticipated surge in future palliative care needs, it is crucial to proactively prepare our healthcare systems and resources for this shift. The growing prevalence of chronic illnesses and an aging population will necessitate more specialized care, underscoring the importance of strategic planning and innovation in palliative services. Addressing this issue promptly is essential to ensure compassionate, patient-centered care for those who need it most. #PalliativeCare #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCare #EvergreenForFounders