“The peace of mind that results from that rich conversation improves the mental and social well-being of patients and reassures them that their family won’t experience the suffering of not knowing what they would have wanted if they became unable to participate in their own decision-making.”
Stephanie Anderson, M.D., executive director of Respecting Choices
Dear Readers,
We are pleased to share new research by the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) described in the latest issue of Hospice News which very clearly underscores the value of Advance Health Care Planning. “This report identifies several key practices that can be used to promote advance care planning across the country and ensure that people receive the care they want in the setting that is right for them,” said C-TAC Executive Director Jon Broyles. (Read the full C-TAC report here on their website.)
Supporting and educating people about Advance Care Planning is also the foundation of End of Life Choices California’s (EOLCCA) work as a clearinghouse for information on all end of life (EOL) options, including medical aid in dying here in California. We know and appreciate that hospices are on the front line of EOL care for the terminally ill. That is why EOLCCA volunteer trainers focus on reaching out to and providing specialized education programs for hospice staff throughout California.
In-Service Training
During an EOLCCA hospice in-service, we discuss all legal end of life options and the critical role Advance Care Planning plays in the quality of a patient’s end of life care.
Our in-services contribute to a hospice’s more informed approach and a greater sensitivity to the end of life choices their patients wish to make. We are especially pleased to see some hospices now encouraging their patients to move forward in their advance care planning. Since EOLCCA’s inception, our trainers have provided 17 hospice in-services.
In light of Covid-19, we have adapted these trainings to a successful video conference format, making it possible to offer them throughout the state, from Crescent City in the north to El Centro in the south. We have observed a more proactive response from hospice staff we have trained in interactions with their patients, and we continue to be a resource to all those trained. A silver lining of this terrible Covid pandemic, is that we can offer this distanced learning to all.
Please let your own hospice, medical, and caregiver networks know that EOLCCA is available to provide similar virtual training sessions, at no charge, about ACP and all end of life options. To request a presentation please call 760-636-8009 or complete this form on our website. Thank you.
Although the C-TAC report done by Discern Health, “a healthcare quality and research advisory organization,” lists 158 references, this is highly inflated and thus misleading. Many references are repetitions which makes me doubt the quality of the report, e.g ref 1 and 2 are the same, ref 7, 8 and 9 are the same, ref 16 and 17 are the same, ref 20, 22, 23, 25 are the same, ref 24 and 26 are the same, ref 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 are the same.