When you feel a therapy may be “futile”, we suggest you ask what benefit would like to the patient and family.

When you feel a therapy may be “futile”, we suggest you ask what benefit would like to the patient and family.
The short and rainy days of December can dampen spirits. We appreciate all you do to help patients despite heavy workloads and busy waiting rooms. Wishing you peace and renewal over the holidays!
Showering often becomes the most difficult physical exertion in COPD patients.
Watch for a change in facial expression, body language, avoiding eye contact, and the more obvious tears or anger.
Even a small degree of urinary retention can contribute to nocturnal agitation.
All hospice is palliative care; not all palliative care is end-of-life or hospice care.
It can be hard to bring up “hospice” but it doesn’t have to feel like giving up.
It can be hard to bring up “hospice” but it doesn’t have to feel like giving up.
We are seeing more patients who are referred too late to benefit fully from hospice care. The surprise question is simple: “Would you be surprised if this patient died within the next year?” A “No” answer from a medical provider is more predictive than other...
Many interventions have a time to benefit interval. As people age they may not have time to benefit from some preventative measures. Keeping Hgb A1c less than 7 takes 8 years for most patients to prevent dialysis and retinopathy. This tool from UCSF can help put some...