When people hear the word “hospice,” they often think the worst and they often think erroneously. There is much about this approach to end-of-life care that people dont understand, yet healthcare professionals sometimes find it hard to allay their patients fears or alter their misconceptions when they talk to their patients about hospice
and hope.
To help physicians and others gently explain the hospice philosophy, VITAS has produced a free, non-commercial, five-minute video program called “Dispelling Hospice Myths.”
“Physicians have become more adept at informing their patients of a terminal prognosis,” says Mark Cohen, VITAS senior vice president of communications and public relations. “But once the physician says terminal, anything else that he or she says is likely ignored, since the patient and family are understandably focused on the diagnosis.
Hospice is about life and putting patients in control of their care. This is the central message of a new, free video called “Dispelling Hospice Myths,” produced by VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®. It is available to physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living communities, and more, to share with their terminally ill patients.
“It can therefore be hard for a physician to discuss a patients options for end-of-life care or to help him or her understand what hospice is,” continues Mark. “Many physicians have thus asked VITAS to help them move conversations with their patients from diagnosis to care planning. This video is our answer to that request.”
The video warmly and compassionately explains that hospice is not about “giving up”; its not about going to a “place” to die, its not restricted to cancer patients and the elderly, and its not available only to the wealthy all of which are common misperceptions about hospice.
Instead, the video explains that hospice is about enhancing the quality of terminally ill patients lives in their last days, weeks or months. It explains that hospice puts patients in control of their care, letting them decide what they want. And finally, it explains that in hospice, the focus is no longer on a patients disease but on his or her comfort and support.
The video in both English and Spanish is available free of charge to physicians, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living communities, senior centers and senior advocates through a VITAS representative.
Jean DeJean, a VITAS representative in Palm Beach County, says hes shown the DVD to patients (and their family members) who have been referred to but are skeptical about hospice, and the DVD has helped to break the ice and open communication with them. “I cover an area with a lower-income population,” says Jean. “Many of the people in these communities are misinformed about hospice, so they are very reluctant to consider it. They tend to think hospice means the end and that its a place, and they tend to think they cant afford it.” But the DVD clearly explains otherwise. “Its a great education tool,” says Jean.
Conchita Tovar-Bas, a VITAS representative in Miami-Dade County, has shown the DVD to newly hired nurses during in-services at a couple of the hospitals that she covers.
“The response has been very positive,” remarks Conchita. “The DVD gives the nurses the freedom to say, I thought hospice was this, but its really that, which gives me the opportunity to discuss in greater depth what hospice really means.”
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