NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 27
A physician connects his
personal and professional
caregiver roles
As palliative care providers, we
spend our careers talking about
end-of-life care and helping families
make difficult choices about life
and death. Have you ever been on
the other side of the conversation,
answering questions and making
decisions for your own loved ones?
I have cared for thousands of
patients at the end of life, but
recently I've been on the other side
of that conversation - twice.
My first conversation began with
"Momma," my wife's 91-year-old
paternal grandmother. Her decline
started with a kidney stone, which
then led to urinary tract infections
and tremendous pain. Momma
made the decision to have
lithotripsy. During the procedure,
she had respiratory distress and
required intubation. Her heart was
not strong enough to tolerate this
"routine" procedure. She developed
right-sided heart failure and
pulmonary edema. Doctors were
able to extubate her; however, she
continued to have more respiratory
distress. She was not doing well.
They placed her on Bi-pap but she
did not tolerate this. She was in the
hospital, agitated, dyspneic, and did
not want to be re-intubated.
So now what? Our family had to
begin those difficult discussions.
Do we continue to push aggressive
care? Momma told the family she
was tired and ready to die. It was
hard for our family to acknowledge
what this meant even knowing her
wishes. Added to that, it was two
weeks before Christmas and my
family lived six hours away from
Momma. We decided my wife and
our three-year-old daughter would
travel to Georgia while I stayed
home to work. I wanted my wife to
be there for the conversation in
person and to see her grandmother,
as I knew this might be her final
days on earth. After discussing
options, the family agreed to
inpatient hospice care.
I have cared for
thousands of patients
at the end of life, but
recently I've been on
the other side of that
conversation - twice.
I was too involved with work and
like many times before chose work
over family. My wife was at
Momma's bedside for less than 24
hours when she called me telling
me that Momma was asking for me,
"The Doctor." I pulled myself away
from work in the middle of the day
and headed to Georgia.
I was now being asked medical
questions as well as "what about
Christmas?", "what do we tell the
Winter 2017 | NHPCO NewsLine
27
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017
Table of Contents
NHPCO Strategic Vision
Message from Edo
Hospice Lessons Learned
Las Vegas Tragedy
Facts and Figures: Hospice Care
Baystate Health (display ad)
Strategic Accomplishments
State Hospice Profiles (display ad)
Other Side of Conversation
Social Security Disability in Hospice
2018 Webinar Series (display ad)
New Videos
Two Premiere Events
The Coalition
ACP Online Certificate
Meet Zinnia Harrison
Consolo (display ad)
Successful Outreach
We Honor Veterans in 2017
Creative Arts Contest
Content Licensing (display ad)
Member News
Career Center (display ad)
Council of States Spotlight
News from NHF
2018 NHF Gala (dsiplay ad)
News from We Honor Veterans
Pet Peace of Mind (display ad)
Lighthouse of Hope (display ad)
Online Resources
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - intro
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 1
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Table of Contents
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 3
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - NHPCO Strategic Vision
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Message from Edo
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Hospice Lessons Learned
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 7
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 8
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 9
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 10
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Las Vegas Tragedy
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 12
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 13
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Facts and Figures: Hospice Care
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 15
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 16
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 17
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 18
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Baystate Health (display ad)
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Strategic Accomplishments
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 21
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 22
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 23
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 24
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - State Hospice Profiles (display ad)
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Other Side of Conversation
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 27
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 28
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 29
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Social Security Disability in Hospice
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 31
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 32
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 2018 Webinar Series (display ad)
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - New Videos
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Two Premiere Events
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - The Coalition
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - ACP Online Certificate
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Consolo (display ad)
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Successful Outreach
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - We Honor Veterans in 2017
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 41
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Creative Arts Contest
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 43
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 44
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Content Licensing (display ad)
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Member News
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 47
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 48
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Career Center (display ad)
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Council of States Spotlight
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 51
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - News from NHF
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - 2018 NHF Gala (dsiplay ad)
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - News from We Honor Veterans
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Lighthouse of Hope (display ad)
NHPCO NewsLine Winter 2017 - Online Resources
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