Educating patients and caregivers is a crucial aspect of hospice care, especially when it comes to navigating the complexities of end-of-life situations. Clear communication can significantly enhance the quality of care provided. However, end-of-life discussions can be overwhelming for patients and families, making it challenging to absorb complex information. Additionally, with many responsibilities to juggle, nurses may inadvertently skip critical points during these conversations.
Conveying clear, complete and accurate information about symptoms is more important than ever with the Symptom Follow-up Visit process included in the new Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool. To help support and empower hospice teams, Enclara Pharmacia pharmacists have developed a valuable new resource: Crucial Conversations: Educating Patients & Caregivers on Common Symptoms in Hospice Care. This free guide is designed to assist clinicians in effectively conveying key information about hospice care, including:
Understanding Symptoms: Helping families anticipate what to expect.- Setting Realistic Expectations: Clarifying what effective symptom management looks like.
- Explaining Prescribing Decisions: Providing insight into medication choices, including when certain drugs may be discontinued.
- Identifying Side Effects and Interactions: Ensuring caregivers know what to monitor.
With talking points on many of the most common symptoms encountered in hospice care, nurses can more confidently provide patients and caregivers with the necessary information to actively participate in the hospice plan of care. This proactive approach can help prevent unnecessary after-hours calls and medication errors, while also improving overall care quality and caregiver feedback, on the CAHPS survey.
This free guide is delivered in a mobile-friendly and printer-friendly format to ensure easy access for hospice teams, making it simple to integrate into their daily workflow. Download it today!
