Practice tip of the week: Discussing end of life care

With all the useful information available on Physicians Practice, it is easy to become overwhelmed.

With this in mind, the tip of the week is a chance to reflect on some of the wisdom found all across the site. In this September 2019 story on discussing end of life care with patient, Pamela Tabar, CADDCT, CDP gives these tips:

Talk about ADs on a regular basis

Every PCP should be discussing advance directives at the annual exam, but the more often it’s discussed, the better, experts say.

Use your medical assistants

Need to maximize your time? Train your medical assistants in how to ask about advance directives in an empowering way while they are rooming patients and updating their current medical record information.

Take a look at the calendar

April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day. Consider using April as your practice’s launch point for ongoing initiatives relating to advance directives.

Post educational materials in lobby and exam rooms

Posters can be very effective as conversation-starters. Visual educational materials also can help normalize topics that are difficult to talk about.

Capture patients’ attention while they’re waiting for services

Provide leaflets and/or posters in the exam room that specifically encourage the documentation of their wishes with their medical professionals.

Have your state’s printed forms available for anyone who requests them

There’s no time like the present: Don’t thwart a patient’s interest or initiative in the subject by telling them they should download the form later from home.

Offer reputable resources

Provide additional information, both as take-home print fliers and add a section with links on your website.

Click here to read the rest of the article and be sure to check back next week for another Tip of the Week!