Palliative care in US hospitals has risen steadily over the past 16 years, with more than three-quarters of the nation’s hospitals and health systems offering programs, according to a recent report from the Center to Advance Palliative Care. However, many who would most benefit from palliative care simply don’t have access to it, which can ultimately diminish patients’ quality of life while simultaneously driving up healthcare costs.
Both hospice and palliative care present an enormous number of challenges for clinicians and patients alike. From facilitating difficult conversations to managing grief and emotional distress to the specific nuances of determining what is right for any given patient, the list goes on.
As a youngster, I was afraid of the “closet-monster.” That formidable creature of childhood imagination lurking in the dark back of the closet who, if not for a brave parent coming into the room and turning on the light, might have snuck out during the night to do dastardly things.
“[Hospice] is about living,” says Dr. Tim Ihrig, Chief Medical Officer at Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care. “We can’t change that we all are going to die. So let’s refocus the conversation from dying to “how do you want to live?”
Palliative care cuts hospitalization and 30-day readmission rates while decreasing per capita health care costs. Ironically, one of the most dire threats to the long-term health of the United States economy and our way of life – is our nation’s healthcare system.
Summer’s extreme heat can be a problem for individuals of any age and health conditions, but those with kidney disease need to take extra precautions to ensure they have a happy and safe summer. Take advantage of the opportunity of sunny days to enjoy activities and gentle exercise, but keep the tips below in mind.
