Approaching the Hospice Conversation: Best Practices for Physicians
Posted on Friday June 20, 2014 in
For a physician, having the hospice conversation with a patient can be viewed as a difficult proposition. However, when approached with perspective and preparation, a discussion about hospice can be easier to manage for all involved.
The best approach is to discuss the hospice option as early in the disease process as possible. “Physicians tend to wait too long to have this important talk,” says Aliya Ali, M.D., Medical Director for Crossroads Hospice in Philadelphia. She recommends introducing the concept of hospice up front — at the time of the initial diagnosis if…
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