Journal of palliative medicine
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Hospice brings substantial clinical benefits to dying patients and families but is underutilized by patients dying of hematologic malignancies (HM); nationwide, only 2% of HM patients use hospice. There are 70,000 deaths among U.S. patients with hematologic malignancies yearly. ⋯ HM patients are referred late or never for hospice services. Studies evaluating earlier integration of palliative and hospice care with usual HM care are warranted. We present a one-page negotiation form that we have found useful in negotiations among HM physicians, hospice medical directors, and payers.
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The communication skills of noticing emotional cues and responding empathically are necessary but insufficient for some conversations about redefining goals of care. For some patients, an empathic response by a clinician is insufficient to move the conversation forward. We describe an expert approach that links empathy to action. In this approach, we outline (1) how affect provides a spotlight that illuminates what is important, (2) how empathy affords a way to connect with patients and families that engages deep values, (3) how clinicians can infer deep values through an associative process with patients, and (4) how clinicians can then design actions with patients and families and nurture their commitment to the actions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Exploring the collective hospice caregiving experience.
Collective caregiving, performed by caregivers working in pairs (informal primary and secondary caregivers working together), is common in the hospice setting. Research suggests that caregiving pairs may experience different caregiver outcomes. However, little is known about how caregiving pairs differ from solo caregivers (informal primary caregivers) on outcome measures. ⋯ Despite assumptions that social support is positively facilitated vis-a-vis collective caregiving, caregiving pairs may be at higher risk for anxiety and depression. Future research is needed to address why individuals become anxious and/or depressed when working as part of a caregiving pair.