Published September 8, 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutesPeople living with serious illnesses must make important healthcare decisions throughout their healthcare journeys. As they approach end-of-life, these decisions become even more consequential as patients consider treatment goals, palliative care, and life-support measures. Too often, an end-of-life care conversation is the elephant in the exam room. Even though patients and their families facing life-limiting[…]
Published March 31, 2021
Reading Time: 4 minutesApproximately 37 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Of those, more than 785,000 have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, and need dialysis treatment or an organ transplant to survive. Kidney disease ranks as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and approximately 91,000 people are on the list[…]
Published June 22, 2020
Reading Time: 4 minutesDementia is a term used to describe neurodegenerative brain disorders with symptoms that include a decline in memory, reasoning, and a gradual loss of the cognitive abilities needed to carry out daily living activities. These abnormal brain changes also affect behavior, emotions, and relationships. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80[…]
Published September 17, 2018
Reading Time: 4 minutesStudies estimate that anywhere from 250,000 to 440,000 people in the U.S. die every year due to preventable medical errors. While very little research on patient safety has been done specifically for patients in palliative care, they are more vulnerable to errors and related adverse events. The end-of-life is a vulnerable time. Multiple healthcare transitions, changes in[…]