Introduction
Lois, a patient in the last stages of breast cancer, was recently admitted into a hospice program. Once a patient enters hospice care, curative treatments are typically no longer given. He was glad to have a hospice nurse come into their home and help with the care of his wife. However, there was a misunderstanding concerning the treatment process. This discussion explains different methods for the misunderstanding concerning Lois’s treatment, conversations that Lois and Henry could have had before enrolling in the hospice program, and recommendations to prevent future misunderstandings.
Avoiding the Misunderstanding
There are various ways the misunderstanding could have been avoided. The hospice nurse could have clarified what hospice care entails with Henry. Hospice care is designed for patients in the last stages of a terminal illness who are not expected to live much longer. As such, hospice care focuses on comfort rather than curative care (Vira et al., 2020). The hospice nurse should have explained this to Henry so he would know what to expect. The misunderstanding could have been avoided if henry had spoken to the hospice nurse about his concerns. The nurse could also have provided alternative treatment, such as talking to a doctor about potential hospital outpatient treatments.
Essential Discussion Before the Program
The Hospital and Henry should have discussed their expectations for treatment once Lois entered the hospice program. Henry should have been made aware that treatments would no longer be provided once Lois entered hospice care and that the focus would be on comfort measures only. Lois and Henry should have also discussed their goals for care and what they both hope to accomplish. Finally, they should have addressed any financial concerns or issues related to hospice care. This discussion would have ensured that all of Lois’ interests were taken into account as she entered the hospice program and that both Lois and Henry were on the same page regarding care (Curtis et al., 2020). It would have helped to avoid any misunderstandings down the road.
Conclusion
Hospice programs in hospitals could do better in providing necessary information concerning their program and its purpose to patients. They could provide educational materials on their website or other channels like hospitals, doctor’s offices, and senior centers. The program could also offer educational seminars or workshops on hospice care. Finally, they could ensure that the staff working in hospice programs are adequately trained to explain the types of treatments provided.
References
Curtis, J. R., Kross, E. K., & Stapleton, R. D. (2020). The importance of addressing advance care planning and decisions about do-not-resuscitate orders during novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA. Web.
Vira, P., Samuel, S. R., Amaravadi, S. K., Saxena, P. P., Rai PV, S., Kurian, J. R., & Gururaj, R. (2020). Role of physiotherapy in hospice care of patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 38(5), 503-511. Web.