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Having trouble viewing this email?
Click here to view in your browser. Andy was just discharged from the hospital, but he had to return to the Emergency Department when his
breathing worsened. At 72, he had smoked most of his life and was exposed to asbestos while he worked construction. While Andy's doctors believed he had mesothelioma, the pathology report from a lung biopsy was still pending. Andy did not wish to stay in the hospital again, but he didn’t know exactly what to do. Gloria, his adoring wife, became his best advocate and spokesperson with her valuable insight. “We know there’s no cure; we just want to even things out - buy some quality time for
Andy.”
"Even-ing things out" for Andy and Gloria meant providing them with palliative (pal-ee-ā-tive) care. This service is a godsend for patients who have a vital organ (brain, heart or lung) failing and need to talk specifically about advance care planning. Patients always have the
choice to receive treatment at home or in the hospital. Palliative care gives family caregivers the resources they need to care for their patients at home.
Palliative care tools are physical, mental and spiritual resources/devices that allow for a shift in patient care from being patient-centered to person-centered.
Consider the following metaphorical tools
to better understand palliative care:
5 Ways to Improve Palliative Care
The article seeks to educate, but creates some confusion. Here are the takeaway points for each
improvement:
- The "cultural shift" does not start with physicians, it’s a grassroots effort of family caregivers.
- Palliative care is LESS of not a physician specialty and MORE of a nursing practice.
- Screening patients for palliative care is
the duty of emergency medicine.
- Palliative care is better appreciated as an outpatient service.
- Measure success by noting the ER patients who say upfront, "I receive palliative care."
Wish Me Luck!I entered a contest to be the Keynote Speaker at the National Caregiving Conference.
Click here to view my video submission
Decision to be made July 30!
September 6-9, 2017
"Conversations Matter Most in the
Emergency Department"
Advance Care Planning
and
End-of-Life Care Conference
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Is Palliative Care Right For YOU?
by Kevin J. Haselhorst, MD The key to making medical decisions
is understanding palliative care:
Palliative Care is the
bridge between
advance care
and end-of-life
care.
When you no longer have your health,
how will you spend your time and money?
Is quality of life more important than
staying alive at any cost?
This booklet will teach you: - What palliative care means in practical terms
- The value of making your own medical decisions
- How to gain peace of mind with chronic
illness
Command respect during your next
doctor visit by saying,
"I receive palliative care."
Learn more at KevinHaselhorst.com
Drum Corp International!
"Kevin’s World" and Drum Corps World collided in San Antonio last weekend. The first showdown of the top drum corps in the U.S. occurred in the Alamodome. Having marched with the Cavaliers in 1980, I had my personal favorite to win. The Cavaliers have a demanding show that’s titled "Men Are from Mars." The Cavalier’s show winds through a sea of turbulence with precision, ending with Frank Sinatra’s "My Way."
Set to the tune
of the U.S. Coast Guard Hymn, “We are the corps, the Cavaliers!” is our anthem and reminder that unity exists between past and present corps members. In their own way (my way), each Cavalier makes an impact on others by setting a higher standard and reaching their marks on and off the field. Being a "cavalier" allows me to help others understand the link between "my way" and advance care planning.
#TributeTuesday
Share a tribute to a loved one who has died, or to mark the anniversary of their death.
From July 18th: #TributeTuesday: The "Love Your Sister" Facebook campaign posted by Samuel Johnson reminded me to just do that.
#WishfulWednesdayHave a wish for the weekend? Post your plan on Wednesday. Practice expressing end-of-life wishes during the prime of life. From July 19th: #WishfulWednesday: Keep it simple - an advance directive that allows for
natural death without legal constraints.
How to Approach Living While
Dying
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Living While Dying Please support this film that makes “living while dying” easier for everyone to engage.
Help spread the word about
this Generosity
fundraiser! UPDATE
We'll be editing the fine cut at the end of this month into July. Immense Possibilities is a weekly public TV and internet series that
featured an interview with Cathy Zheutlin about Living While Dying.
Watch the interview: (10 minutes)
Watch on Vimeo
Cathy needs to raise more money for the music, the sound mix and the color corrections.
Please help get the word out to others you think
might want to back this project!
Only have time for 24 seconds?
As Cathy explores the reality of her loved ones facing death, she turns the camera around and looks at herself.
How will she approach living while dying?
The end result of the film is to have viewers ponder and pick their own rite of passage.
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