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Death, Taxes, and Advance Care Planning |
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In 2008, the U.S. Congress established April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day -- a day to focus attention on discussing and documenting choices for medical treatment, especially in the context of advanced illness, through advance directives such medical powers of attorney, living wills, and CPR directives. And yes, this is a deliberate nod to Benjamin Franklin's famous quip, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Life Quality Institute has two events in April, addressing advance care planning. Details are provided below and are listed on our Web site. A discussion of the importance of advance care planning, and a powerful commentary on the realities of medical decision making are offered in our new LQI blog, "LQI Link." We invite you to read the blog and offer your comments and insights.
In addition, Life Quality Institute is now coordinating statewide education on the Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment. The "MOST" was established by the 2010 legislature as the latest addition to Colorado's toolkit for advance care planning, especially for persons with chronic or advanced illness. The "MOST" process begins with a conversation between an individual and a healthcare provider and ends in completing a form that summarizes key decisions for medical treatment. On signature by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant, the form becomes a set of medical orders for seamless communication of treatment choices across healthcare settings.
All healthcare providers and facilities should be sure they are equipped to implement the MOST program. Visit the MOST in Colorado page on our Web site for a downloadable master form and more information. If you are not able to attend the MOST training in April, please contact us to ask about other scheduled events or about hosting a training in your organization or community. For specifics on other advance directives in Colorado, including sample forms, visit the Colorado Advance Directives Consortium Web site. |
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News from Life Quality Institute |
Staff Changes at Life Quality Institute
Liz Nichols, MSW, has joined Life Quality Institute as a Social Work Educator. Liz will assist LQI with social work education program development. Liz has a strong background in hospice and palliative care education and public outreach in Colorado, Texas, and Ohio, working for small nonprofit and large corporate agencies. We are delighted to welcome her aboard.
On March 14, Jane Barton resigned from her position as Director of Education for Life Quality Institute. However, she will continue to provide educational presentations as a consulting educator for Life Quality Institute, so you will likely see her again under the LQI banner at Called to Care, Breakfast at Brookdale, Creating Communities of Care workshops, conferences, and other programs. We are deeply grateful for the years Jane spent with LQI, contributing her talents and energy to the advancement of palliative care. We're looking forward to our new relationship and wish her the best.
LQI Link
As mentioned in the "Death, Taxes, and Advance Care Planning article above, LQI now has a blog! LQI Link is desgined to foster discussions around end-of-life care, hospice and palliative medicine, communication, caregiving, and advance care planning. We encourage you to check in regularly and join the conversation. Check out LQI Link now! |
MOST Basics and Beyond -- Must Register by April 8th
April 12, 2011, All Day
The Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment program was launched in Colorado last fall. The MOST provides a process for translating patient treatment preferences into a medical order set, which is honored in any healthcare setting. Through the efforts of dedicated volunteer trainers, the word about MOST is getting out - but many healthcare providers are still unfamiliar with the process. At the same time, trainers and early adopters have encountered new questions and complexities as they have prepared their communities for implementation. MORE
Creating Communities of Care
April 12, 2011, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Creating Communities of Care via Share The CareTM is a cost effective, efficient, compassionate model of communal care giving designed to complement and support other patient-centered models of care. Care receivers and caregivers invite family members, friends, colleagues, and volunteers to share in the responsibilities of care so that no one person is overwhelmed by the experience. Throughout the process, people feel supported. Communities are strengthened. Resources are accessed and leveraged. Quality of life is enhanced for all involved. Please join us to learn how this simple, yet effective model of caring can help you and your family! MORE
Called to Care: Taking the Pulse of Palliative Care
April 14, 2011, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Palliative care is an appealing philosophical approach to healthcare. Who could find fault with comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate care? The challenge arises when trying to implement this philosophy within the context of healthcare and insurance systems designed to support and to reimburse curative practices. MORE
Table Talk: Let's Talk, Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives
April 21, 2011, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
This informal session addresses the importance of making key decisions about medical care in advance of a crisis. Talking with family and healthcare providers about these choices-or even knowing what the choices might be-can be difficult. We'll provide some simple and helpful guidelines for starting the conversation, briefly describe the tools available in Colorado for documenting your choices, and leave lots of time for your questions and discussion. MORE
Reality of Care: Professional Boundaries
April 28, 2011, 7:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Professional boundaries are needed to protect patients and families as well as healthcare providers. It is therefore important to review periodically the characteristics of boundaries, the authoritative sources defining boundaries, the varieties of boundaries, the evidence and implications of crossed boundaries, and the available resources for boundary resolutions. MORE
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Save the Date for the 2011 Voices of Palliative Care |
On September 30, 2011, Life Quality Institute will present Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, FAAN as the featured speaker at our fourth Voices of Palliative Care. Dr. Ferrell has focused her 28 years of clinical expertise and research on oncology nursing, pain management, quality of life, and palliative care. Based at City of Hope National Medical Center, she has authored more than 270 publications, most recently the third edition of the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing, and The Nature of Suffering and the Goals of Nursing. An engaging speaker and teacher, she has significantly contributed to the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium project, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in theology, ethics, and culture from Claremont Graduate University. For this event, Dr. Ferrell will be focusing on "compassionate communication" in addressing spirituality, patient and family education, and assisting family caregivers. |
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A Note from the Board of Directors |
I have been involved in end-of-life care on a visceral level for more than thirty years. It all began after my physician father told me in one of his last lucid moments before he died, "They are not prolonging my life, they are prolonging my death!" That is exactly what happened thirty years ago and is still tragically happening with frightening regularity to this day.
When one learns about team-based palliative care, it is such an eye-opening obvious win/win that it boggles the mind! That we all die is a given. It is HOW we die that is in question. We all want dignity and some measure of control over the waning time when our bodies are losing their essential vitality. Yet because we are in such denial about facing the "elephant in the room," we allow our possible choices to be taken over by medical technology that is often counterproductive, painful, and futile!
Because of our fear we (unfortunately but understandably) push aside opportunities to participate in decisions and discussions that can make the path to end of life far better for ourselves as well as our families. If people are unaware of the choices in care, they cannot help but follow the historically typical, limited routes. Fortunately there are paths to the end of life that are significantly more desirable in all measures.
Life Quality Institute's mission is educating both the public and professional caregivers about the choices in treatment available for managing serious health problems, and then, how to support those choices so that the inevitable is meaningful and, yes, fulfilling.
I have the privilege to serve on the Board of Directors of LQI (Life Quality Institute), and I wholeheartedly support the work - by getting the word out, there will be far less fear, more comfort, less unnecessary expense and infinitely more appreciation for living life to the fullest.
Julika Ambrose, DMD
Retired Dentist |
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