Why Discuss End-of-Life?

Providing appropriate care to patients throughout their lifetime is an important experience that should occur in our health care system.  While the majority of Americans believe that death comes suddenly at the end of a productive and full life, this is not the case.
 

Death comes suddenly and without warning to less than 20% of people. The other 80% of the time, progressive illness, debility and death comes after a period of time that may range from weeks to years. Regardless, it will happen.

Studies have shown that patient and families that discuss what is occurring and how to best to plan for the future actually get better, patient centered medical care in the place that they want it! (Home, hospital, nursing home or other location). Education about the types of care available, who provides it, and who pays for it are important to the family/caregiver unit as they plan for the future.

Patients and families in Louisiana are fortunate that the 2010 Louisiana legislature passed the LaPOST legislation which provides for an easily identifiable document that translates a patient’s end of life wishes and goals of care into a physician order that transfers with the patient wherever they go in the health care system. This allows communication among all health care professionals in real time with the patient at the center.

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