There is little doubt that one of the paramount issues for those facing the last phase of their lives is one of control. From such things as pain management to document the end of life wishes with family members, the patient is eager to control as much of the process as possible.
And one of their primary allies in maintaining that control is working with their local hospice as early as possible. That is the central message we received when talking to Talbot Hospice’s medical director, Mary DeShields, and its executive director, Vivian Dodge when talking to the Spy the other day.
With the national average hospice care period lasting only two to three weeks, the options and time for solid planning are minimal. That is why Mary and Vivian are strong advocates for patients and families to enter into hospice care almost immediately after a terminal diagnosis, which allows up to six months for them to prepare appropriately and guarantee the most comfortable end of life strategies possible.
This long-range approach also applies to palliative care which takes of those between acute care and end of life care. This stage for those with a chronic illness this is likely to result in death also requires a multidisciplinary management approach that, like hospice, is directed around the wishes of the patient and dramatically improve their day-to-day quality of life.
That is the primary reason that Talbot Hospice has been taking steps this year to strengthen their palliative care role with a new initiative to work more closely with community physicians and their patients. By adding the local hospice team, both doctors and those under their care can greatly benefit patients with symptoms, and the emotional side of these serious chronic conditions.
The Spy sat down with Mary and Vivian at Talbot Hospice last week for a brief discussion of these issues.
This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more information about Talbot Hospice please go here
Bishop Joel Marcus Johnson says
What a fine philosophic statement Vivian and Mary offer on hospice care – especially that the interdisciplinary hospice approach offers a model for all treatment. I have known Dr. Deshields over 20 years – at first through our Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center via the University of Maryland College of Medicine faculty – and have found her to be among our very finest clinicians with such a wide range of practice, a treasure to our community.