Prognosis: Weeks to Months – On the End of an Era at San Diego Hospice

On February 14th, 1977, a group of volunteers offered support to 10 patients who were nearing the end of life, and in doing so formed the foundation of what would grow into the largest academic hospice in the US – caring for upwards of 1000 patients each day at its peak, and training hundreds of hundreds of clinicians in the specialty of palliative care.  Just a day shy of its 36th anniversary, it was announced that San Diego Hospice would be closing. As an alumnus of the fellowship program at San Diego, I am one of many who are grieving this news.  I write here, not so much to share my grief, but rather to bring to light concerns that this announcement raises, to present questions on how the palliative care community (in its broadest sense – i.e. including hospice) should respond, and to call us all to arms.  After all – we have to be certain that the care of patients at the end of their lives continues to improve in the most compassionate, cost-effective way: providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place.  Why does it matter that San Diego Hospice is closing? Care for the most vulnerable in San Diego has been compromised: First, it strikes me that only a few months ago, San Diego Hospice was caring for more patients each day that most hospitals do.  These patients are often frail, needing intensive support, complex medical care and medication oversight.  The announcement of closing, is not unlike closing of a...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Carer Workers Authors: Source Type: blogs