Exceptional Healthcare Inc.’s Post

Navigating end-of-life care for loved ones? Understand the nuances between palliative and hospice care so you can make the best decision for your situation.

Transparency, communication, empathy, accurate charting, all of these are things the hospital Novant Presbyterian failed at but most importantly, they failed this family. And if her baby was suddenly at risk of death, at the very least they should’ve called Ms. Hunter to be by Legacy’s bedside. One thing we’ve learned over the years is that transparency and empathy reduce lawsuits as do honest and open apologies. This hospital system failed this family in every way possible. #OpenNotes #PatientRights #MaternalMorbidityAndMortality #InfantDeath #CommunicationErrors #Transparency #Empathy #AccessToMedicalRecords #Apologies #DiagnosticErrors #AccurateCharting

A Commission on palliative and end of life care to end the postcode lottery is a great idea, with two caveats: 1. there is an urgent need for change and an injection of funding into hospices and community providers now otherwise inequities and gaps in provision will get worse. The Commission can't be used by the Government to kick the issue into the long grass as it appears to be doing with social care. The business case for investment to address the '100,000' is already clear with one third of hospital beds occupied by people in last year of life, and nearly 1 in 2 people dying in hospital when we know most people want to die at home (or care home if that's where they live) with appropriate support. This is a perfect example of where the shift from hospital to community that the Government and Lord Darzi say they want is absolutely achievable - we can achieve better outcomes for people within existing resources if we disinvest in hospitals and reinvest in communities - this can be done via growth monies to avoid actually shutting beds - the end result being that not only will this improve palliative and end of life care but also release capacity for the Government to achieve its goal of reducing waiting lists. 2. given the House of Commons support for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill we need to ensure that we're taking an holistic view of palliative and end of life care including the likely new option on the continuum of care choices of an assisted death for terminally ill adults. That means we can't have a Commission solely led by people that actively opposed and tried to block the Bill. If we want to bring everyone together we need an inclusive approach.

Three years ago in safety history (9 AUG 2021) Mike Beehler of Vancouver WA died in hospital. He was only 60. Seven days later, he called his sister, Debbie Danielson, also of Vancouver WA. She was surprised. "You can't be alive. You're dead." Mike Beehler (shown inset below after his "death") had called 911 for his roommate who was choking on food. The roommate was transported to a Vancouver hospital, treated, and sustained on advanced life support because of his anoxic brain injury. The hospital called Debbie Danielson for a decision - did family want her brother Mike to be sustained on life support? There was no hope of recovery. After consulting with her husband, Danielson decided to withdraw life support. Remains were sent to an area funeral home and arrangements made. When asked if the remains needed identification - the hospital and funeral home declined saying "no need, we will take care of everything." The hospital had misidentified their patient as Mike Beehler. Debbie Danielson was in the electronic healthcare record as a contact from an earlier admission. This error in patient identification led to the wrong family making treatment decisions and funeral arrangements for their patient. Sadly, patient harm statistics in the US are cited in patient deaths resulting from errors and admissions. The Makary study counts 251,000 patient deaths every year. That is one patient death every 2 minutes, 5 seconds. Mike Beehler would not even be counted as harm. The severity was not death, and the harm was not physical. My ask this week of safety leaders in power, transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare is two-fold. Use two-identifiers to positively identify a system, structure, component, or person before doing anything to them or on behalf of them. Expand your definition of harm / injury to include lower severity harm / injury AND emotional / psychological harm. Counting only deaths and actual physical harm are such sad ways to measure safety. #safety #hro #derisking #safetyleadership

At Newport Healthcare, they believe that human connection is the most powerful experience that any of us will ever have. Their approach starts with seeing their clients as a whole person rather than a diagnosis. We provide a foundation of well-being to foster sustainable healing and resilience in teens, young adults, families, and communities. Learn more about how they ensure that their clients are receiving the highest-quality care to find sustainable recovery and lead happy, healthy lives: https://bit.ly/41Yr3yL

Embracing Life’s Full Circle: Death and the Role of a Death Doula Life and death are intimately connected, each defining and enriching the other. While death might seem like the opposite of life, it’s an essential part of our journey, offering its own form of closure and peace. A death doula plays a vital role in this profound transition, providing support and guidance when it’s needed most. Unlike traditional medical care, a death doula offers compassionate, non-medical support tailored to the unique needs and wishes of the individual and their loved ones. They help manage the emotional and practical aspects of dying, ensuring that the process is as peaceful and dignified as possible. By embracing the end of life with the assistance of a death doula, we can find harmony and understanding in the full spectrum of our existence. Death, like life, deserves care, respect, and compassion.  Seize the moment-start the conversation. Connect now.

"End-of-life care is more than just medical treatment, it’s an approach that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the person. Hospice care also extends to the family, providing your loved ones with the necessary support during this challenging time. We strive to help them navigate the complexities of decision-making." Read more about the support systems available in our blog, "Hospice Lets YOU Choose: A Deeper Look Into Hospice Care." ✍️ https://lnkd.in/emjPvHm3 #BristolHospice #Choices #Support #SpiritualNeeds #Caring

It’s also the foundation of all we do here at Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services. Bringing Love into the lives of Seniors with Dignity and Respect®. https://lnkd.in/gSy3UGPh

Reflections on the Master of Science in Palliative Care journey: https://lnkd.in/dCGm4j8B

A powerful reflection on emotional boundaries in palliative care. https://lnkd.in/gJWJwpE9