“Is hospice only for the dying?” Most people would answer yes to this question. In fact, many patients are admitted to hospice care with only a few hours or days left.
We are all privileged and humbled on a daily basis to be invited into the lives of our families and patients at their most sacred and vulnerable moments and share experiences that become lifetime memories. The Trilogy vent wean that we facilitated on Sheila Stigelman was once such experience.
Recently, Washington State Senator Maureen Walsh stated that nurses “working at hospitals in rural regions probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day.”
The word “psychedelics” can carry a lot of misconceptions, especially when it’s used in a medical context. Some may find their possible side effects, addictive nature, and popularity as recreational drugs make them unfit to be used to treat medical conditions. However, research has started to show otherwise.
According to the Stanford School of Medicine, “studies have shown that approximately 80% of Americans would prefer to die at home, if possible.” Yet, only 20% of Americans actually have this wish honored.
National Healthcare Decisions Day is held each year on April 16th – one day after Tax Day, when everyone has been thinking about paperwork and planning. National Healthcare Decisions Day is a time reserved to educate the public on the benefits of advance care planning. Events are held so members of the community can complete or update an advance directive. It’s an incredibly important mission.
