From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— UW Health has rolled out a new hospice initiative, which health system leaders say will improve the process for providing end-of-life care.
Under the new effort, the health system will involve hospice care “much earlier” for patients who need it, such as in the case of an irreversible stroke. Dr. Jeff Pothof, chief quality officer and emergency medicine physician for UW Health, says the change will ensure patients are put in the most appropriate environment for their condition.
The announcement also underlines the importance of what patients and their families are prioritizing in hospice care situations. Pothof notes that “comfort is a more important goal than cure” in many cases.
“As doctors, we often want to throw the Hail Mary pass and do everything we can for the patient, but sometimes that is not in the best interest of the patient,” he said in the release.
The initiative encourages discussions between care providers and patient families to better understand their care goals.
Patients at UW Health previously may have stayed in the intensive care unit during the end of their life, given the time required to coordinate hospice care, according to the release. By offering inpatient or at-home hospice care earlier, the effort aims to help free up ICU space while also improving the experience for patients prioritizing comfort.
See the release below.
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Press Releases
– UW Health: Initiative enhances hospice and palliative care programs
