Top Four Things to Keep in Mind During Goals-of-Care Discussions

Top Four Things to Keep in Mind During Goals-of-Care Discussions

In order to for hospice care to provide the most highly personalized treatment for a patient, it’s necessary to have goals-of-care discussions.

Through these discussions, the hospice provider will be able to gain a deep understanding of the patient’s situation and how best to care for them. As time goes on, these conversations will often change depending on the state of the patient.

When having these discussions, here are the top four subjects you’ll want to cover.

What You Need to Know about Goals-of-Care Conversations

Having goals-of-care conversations can be intimidating and emotionally draining.

For this reason, it’s important to have a good idea of what you should talk about before going into one. Being prepared will not only yield better results, but ease the stress of the conversion.

In fact, it would be a good idea to take notes during the goals-of-care conversation, in order to maintain a record of what was discussed and have a reference for future discussions.

Understand the Illness

Before receiving care, it’s important for the hospice provider to have the deepest understanding of the patient’s condition. The more the hospice provider understands the patient’s condition, the more individualized the care can be.

During this portion of the conversation, it’s vital to relate any information that the patient has received from other doctors regarding his or her condition.

What Does the Patient Want?

After the patient’s condition is established, the hospice care provider should be informed of what the patient’s desires are. Despite having similar conditions, every patient is different and may respond better to certain types of hospice care.

Also, be sure to discuss the goals for what to do should the patient’s condition worsen. While there may be certain protocols in place, patients may have specific wants.

Explore Potential Care Options

Once the patient’s condition and preferences for treatment are identified, the hospice provider can begin recommending the best road for care. Options can be provided to the patient and the patient’s caretakers, who can then decide which works best for them.

Don’t Forget to Summarize

It’s important to end the conversation with a summary, so the patient, the patient’s caretaker, and the hospice provider are all on the same page. Be sure to run through the different subjects that were covered and repeat the conclusions that were arrived at.

If something in the conversation didn’t seem ideal to you, don’t be afraid to bring it up. Now is the time to establish the patient’s future at the hospice facility.

Understanding is the Key to Good Hospice Care

It’s the responsibility of the hospice provider, the patient, and the patient’s caretaker to communicate the patient’s needs and how best to address them.

At the end of the day, it’s all about the patient.

And a successful end-of-goals conversation is the first step to receiving the best possible hospice care for your loved one.

Are you considering hospice care for your loved one? Reach out to Divinity Hospice online or by phone (281-339-7079). We’ll give your loved one the respect, attention, and personalized care they deserve.