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The Questions of Death. Robert J. Sumner. Salem Hospital Barry Heath, Hospital Chaplin. Willamette Valley Hospice Elizabeth Peters, Assistant Director. Objectives of Chaplin Heath. Help patients reconnect with what is already known
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The Questions of Death. Robert J. Sumner
Salem Hospital Barry Heath, Hospital Chaplin Willamette Valley Hospice Elizabeth Peters, Assistant Director
Objectives of Chaplin Heath • Help patients reconnect with what is already known • Help patients touch base with the intangible • Offer options of Palliative Care (Comfort care)
Palliative Care • Old method: Talk about death at the end of treatment • New Method: Talk about death at the moment of diagnosis.
Objectives of Willamette Valley Hospice“Making a positive difference, at a sensitive time of life’ • Help patients improve the quality of life before they die. “Honor the patient.” • Multidisciplinary Staff • Nurse • Social Worker • Spiritual Needs Counselor • Home Health Aide • Physical Therapist • Massage Therapist
Hospice & PAS Dr. Rasmussen - “Strongly” encourages patients to consider Hospice; “give it a try.” - 19 Patients have chosen PAS; many come into hospice, and leave choosing not proceed with PAS.
Integrating Hospice and Salem Hospital • Patients in hospital eligible to receive managed care by hospice, without hospital disruption. • Nursing homes, retirement centers.
Conclusions • Hospitals can take a larger role in the “end of life” planning. • Hospitals and Hospice can, and should, work together for patient quality of life management. • Hospice is a viable alternative to PAS, but can also be used in partnership.