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Making death conversations fun!
“Arriving at an acceptance of one’s mortality is a process, not an epiphany.” – Atul Gawande Imagine a group of old (mature) friends gathered for a “girls” weekend in balmy Florida. The friendships started in grammar school and have continued for the better part of 50 years. These women have met at least once a Read more… Making death conversations fun! originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - September 21, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Palliative Care Source Type: blogs

Death is what gives life meaning
“He knew it was his time a month ago. We were sitting at the kitchen table, and he told me he couldn’t feel half his face. He kept tapping the left side and saying he couldn’t feel anything. I knew he had a stroke because my daughter had one. He was stubborn, didn’t want to Read more… Death is what gives life meaning originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - September 15, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Palliative Care Source Type: blogs

A patient gave this physician her humanity back
I am a physician. We are always taught to see our patients as more than their state of illness or diagnosis. “Speak to the patient,” “listen,” “look them in the eye,” “do not put one foot out the door,” the list of do’s and don’ts, while self-explanatory, is long. A good doctor is considered one Read more… A patient gave this physician her humanity back originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - September 13, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Palliative Care Source Type: blogs

Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest by Physicians Creating the CDC Opioid Prescribing Guidelines: Bad Faith or Incompetence?
We described above how changes in opioid policy aimed at reducing Washington State’s Medicaid and Workers Compensation costs contributed to an increase in methadone deaths between 2003 and late 2014 (23-25). Focusing on similar cost reductions, the Centers for Medicar e and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rules for 2019 including several directives intended to reduce " Opioid Overutilization, ” including adoption of the “90 morphine milligram equivalent (MME) threshold cited by the 2016 CDC Opioid Guideline (147, 148). Simply put, reduced prescribing reduces costs for prescribed medications.Chou received research fu...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - September 12, 2022 Category: Palliative Care Tags: health policy judy kollas opioids research schechtman Source Type: blogs

What anticipatory grief feels like
An excerpt from A Caregiver’s Love Story. After Bill was given his terminal diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the bloody nose scare, I began to worry about the future. It was like “waiting for the other shoe to drop,” wondering when and how his death would happen. I didn’t want him to suffer and Read more… What anticipatory grief feels like originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - September 10, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Palliative Care Source Type: blogs

Healee Lands $2M to Grow Customizable Telehealth Solution in the U.S.
New funding round led by Nina Capital enables Healee to empower unique digital health models and accelerate telehealth adoption Healee, providing highly configurable digital health technology, announced today that it has raised $2M in a seed round led by Nina Capital, with the participation of Calm/Storm Ventures, KAYA VC and existing investor Eleven Ventures, to fund its U.S. expansion and technology development. Supporting Unique Use Cases in Digital Health Healee’s technology enables healthcare organizations to quickly launch ready infrastructure for telehealth, digital check-in and scheduling, configured to custom wo...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - September 5, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Healthcare IT News Tags: Health IT Company Healthcare IT Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring Calm/Storm Ventures Digital Health Digital Health Models Eleven Ventures Healee Health IT Funding Health IT Fundings Health IT Investment Hristo Kosev KAYA VC Mar Source Type: blogs

Palliative Care and Hospice Can Enhance Quality of Life at Different Stages
Photo credit Vladimir Soares Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease and is also in the middle stages of dementia. While we understand that neither​ of her diseases can be cured, we’re told they can be managed. I think that management should be about making her quality of life the best it can be, but ​Mom’s miserable. When I asked her doctor about options, he said they are doing all they can for now. ​I suggested ​​hospice care, but he says that he doubts that she’s “ready.” I feel so helpless. What else is there? – VL Continue reading on Inforum for more about quality-of-life management for th...
Source: Minding Our Elders - September 4, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Talk about death in plain, simple, easy-to-understand terms
“You’re dying.” I can often visualize the impact of my words as soon as they leave my mouth, the heavy weight sinking into the mind and body of my patient as they sit in the stark white hospital bed. It usually isn’t the first time they’ve heard the sentiment. After all, we tell them countless Read more… Talk about death in plain, simple, easy-to-understand terms originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - September 3, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Hospital-Based Medicine Palliative Care Source Type: blogs

Dementia Caregiver ’s Experience Brought Premium Incontinence Protection To the US
As is the case with most people living with advanced dementia Harris Sterling’s father developed incontinence. Along with other difficult issues that come with Alzheimer’s progression, managing the incontinence necessitated a move to an assisted living facility (ALF). Harris's mother lived near the facility and spent the most time with her husband, yet Harris tried to help as much as he could from a distance. One task he took over was to manage his dad's incontinence products. “I didn’t know what I was doing,” Harris said. “You hear about national brands and expect them to perform but everyone was frustrated ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - September 1, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Some Medications May Trigger or Worsen Cognitive or Incontinence Problems
Medications save lives and/or increase the quality of life for many people. Yet, there are few if any medications that have no side effects, many of which may negatively affect the brain or other organs of the body. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says there is evidence that some overactive bladder medications (OBMs) can cause issues that are similar to Alzheimer’s and may, in some cases, even contribute to triggering symptoms... Drugs that could induce or worsen incontinence: There might be other reasons related to incontinence that would make it wise to review medications, as well. According to USPhar...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 31, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Confused About Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care? You Aren ’t Alone
Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease as well as late-stage Alzheimer’s. We know that there are no cures for either of her current conditions, but the doctors don’t seem to have any useful answers for me when I ask about how I can make her life better at this stage. She has an inhaler for her lungs, but they don’t seem willing to prescribe medications or advice other than keep her comfortable. Well, how do I go about that? Should she be on hospice? I’ve heard of something called palliative care, but I don’t understand it and no doctor has mentioned it. Can you help me? – CV Dear CV: I’m so...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 27, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Withdrawing life-sustaining treatment over family objections
“We can keep your loved one alive. but we won’t. Even though you think their life is worth living, we do not.” The first time I helped a hospital convey this type of offensive message to a patient’s family, it deeply humbled me. My service on a hospital medical appropriateness review committee forged charitable respect Read more… Withdrawing life-sustaining treatment over family objections originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - August 24, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Palliative Care Source Type: blogs

The Macro View – Health, Economics, and Politics and the Big Picture. What I Am Watching Here And Abroad.
August 18, 2022 Edition-----The main issue, probably of the year, is the increasing tension across the Taiwan Strait with all sorts of worries about how conflict can be avoided and prosperity maintained at a reasonable level as tensions continue. And hopefully ease.The impact of climate change in Europe is really becoming obvious and worrying. I am not sure just how a realistic response is possible in any reasonable time.In OZ the PM has come back after a week off to have the Chinese Ambassador tell us we are a vassal and to just shut up and behave. Astonishing and serious stuff IMVHO.-----Major Issues.-----https://www.smh...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - August 18, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs

What a good death looked like [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. “He needed to be taken to the hospital to be pronounced, and he was put on a gurney. One frequently mouthed wish was to be taken from his home feet first. I stood beside him as he was placed in the ambulance. His soft, sweet smile told me everything Read more… What a good death looked like [PODCAST] originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 27, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Podcast Palliative Care Source Type: blogs

What a good death looked like
The first occurred when the ethics committee gathered to discuss one of the residents on the nursing wing. She was in the late stages of dementia and unable to speak. She had developed an ulcer on her foot, and the doctor recommended antibiotics and whirlpool treatments. These might prevent having her foot amputated. Her health Read more… What a good death looked like originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 26, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Palliative Care Source Type: blogs