Who's in Charge Here? Determining a Patient's Goals of Care, Heartbeat Episode 175

Every patient in hospice care has a plan of care that’s designed by the hospice interdisciplinary team.  The patient voices what he or she wants and needs, and then the hospice team determines how we can safely, legally, and ethically meet those needs.  Often team members disagree with what the patient wants. We bring our own biases and personal preferences to the care we provide - and they get in the way.  The patient gets to decide the kind of care he receives. Quality of life means something different to everybody. What biases do you bring to the care of your patient?  If you’re an unpaid caregiver, are you able to respect and honor the wishes of your loved one? It’s important to know where patient wishes and caregiver preferences stop and start.  Make the patient’s goals your goals, and keep them at the center of the Plan of Care. Visit the Listen page on theheartofhospice.com to find more episodes on hospice care and philosophy and how the interdisciplinary team works.  No matter who you are, or where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice!