Providing compassionate, end-of-life care defines the very essence of the universal anthem, 'Do unto others.'
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) January 25, 2011
Dr. Gary McCarragher, a hospice physician and writer, announced today the launch of his new Web site "Hospice - Care for Life" http://www.hospicecareforlife.com. The site offers a wide range of help for the terminally ill, their families and others who provide care and support.
The site is launched just as the United States' new healthcare law goes into effect in the midst of a national debate on the subject. McCarragher is an advocate of patients having voluntary consultations with their physicians to discuss advance care planning, consisting of advance care directives and end-of-life care planning. McCarragher was interviewed by NPR on the subject. His opinion pieces have been featured in the St. Petersburg Times and The Tampa Tribune.
McCarragher, http://www.garymccarragher.com, a native of Canada, is one of the few hospice physicians making himself available to the online public to answer questions about end-of-life care, advance care and grief following the death of a loved one.
"At the Hospice - Care For Life Web site, patients and their families will find a wealth of valuable information touching on all aspects of hospice and palliative care," McCarragher said. "Providing compassionate, humane, end-of-life care defines the very essence of the universal anthem 'do onto others.' If we dare to celebrate the value of human life and the human spirit, then we are duty-bound to each other to humanely administer to the dying. Hospice magnificently embodies these sacrosanct values. For the care and compassion it provides to our dying patients, in their most vulnerable time of life, I believe Hospice is among the most magnificent organizations ever created for humankind."
In addition to special areas dedicated to patients, families, healthcare providers and spiritual advisers, Dr. Gary McCarragher's Hospice - Care for Life site also includes articles from such luminaries as Dr. Ira Byock, author of Dying Well: The Prospect of Growth at the End of Life, who has been featured on CBS' 60 Minutes. There also is an insightful question-and-answer conversation with nationally recognized hospice expert, Dr. David McGrew.
While most of the information is dedicated to helping patients understand their choices of care and focusing on compassionate care through the end of life, the site also includes information for those who are grieving after the death of a loved one and includes a link to a national hospice advocacy network.
McCarragher, a graduate of renowned McGill University, teaches college-level anatomy. He performs in community theater and supports BLOOM Africa, a nonprofit charity supporting orphans.
McCarragher's Web site already has drawn praise from national experts on hospice and palliative care.
"I am delighted to read of your passion and the Web site you are creating. I truly support your efforts. Thank you for all you are doing," said Dr. Ira Byock, past president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, who has appeared on NPR's Talk of the Nation and been quoted in USA Today, among other publications.
Dr. David McGrew, president of Hospice & Palliative Physician Services of HPH Hospice, and a founding member and past president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, said, "In a society characterized as 'death denying,' it is important to help individuals find answers to questions about end-of-life care. I applaud Dr. McCarragher's new Web site for its mission to connect patients and their caregivers with helpful information and compassionate support networks."
In addition to his medical career, McCarragher is working on a novel involving a physician who faces a crisis that threatens to end his career and jeopardize his personal relationships. Excerpts of the forthcoming novel are available on YouTube.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Physician-author Gary McCarragher Launches Site to Promote End-of-Life Care and Offers Video Support for Terminally Ill and Their Caregivers
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Apple Farmer and the Hospice Marketer
As a young girl, Daddy would often have conversations with me about good customer service.
He spoke to me as though I had already chosen the career of marketing before I had even reached the age of 10.
Daddy believed in leading by example and often
displayed the courtesies of removing his hat as
he entered a room, opening doors for others, and
always responding with "Yes sir" or "Yes Ma'am"
as he spoke to youth and elders alike.
"Try this apple" he would say to the customer.When the purchase was complete, I watched the
customer leave the premises of the apple house
with an overflowing bag. If a dozen apples were
purchased you could bet at least 13 apples were in the bag.
My parents encouraged me with words of "you can be anything",
"you are no better than anyone else and no else is better than you",
and "I love you".
Daddy would often let me play with balancing the checkbook. I
would fret as I saw a near 0 balance and feel relief as deposits
were figured into the scenario.
Looking back, I can only surmise now that this early childhood
education has played a significant role in who I am now.
I love great customer service, I take great pride in good financial
stewardship (I am truly debt free and no one really believes that
except my husband), and I wonder sometimes if my purpose in
life is to be of service through understanding and encouragement.
In case you are in health care, I strongly suggest you find an
apple farmer to mentor you in your career.
They truly know how to plant the seeds, nourish growth and
celebrate with gratitude the yielded crop.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Change of Address: 10 Great Sites for Hospice Care and Why
When someone you care for is approaching the last days of their life, you will want those remaining days to be as comfortable as possible. That is what hospice care is all about. Whether you are in that position now or simply want to be informed ahead of time, the following sites can provide plenty of information and answers to your questions.
- Hospicenet.org – This site is filled with information. It allows you to search for hospice providers. It has information for patients and caregivers. It also has information regarding hospice for children and dealing with bereavement. An excellent non-profit site.
- Hospicefoundation.org – This is the official site of the Hospice Foundation of America. In addition to providing resources for patients and caregivers, this site has resources, classes and training materials for hospice providers and clergy. You’ll find links to all things hospice on this site.
- Cancer.org – This is the site for the American Cancer Society. Since cancer is one of most common reasons for the use of hospice care, the American Cancer Society provides plenty of helpful information regarding hospice. Information like how to choose a hospice provider, who pays for the cost of hospice and much more.
- Thehomecaredirectory.com – This site allows you to search for home care services by location, first by state and then by city. Once you receive the list of providers in your city, you are able to request information online from the providers. The site provides a very thorough request form that allows you to customize your information request to meet your specific situation.
- Mayoclinic.com – The well known Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota provides some great information on hospice care. The site has a very thorough listing of criteria you should be looking for in a hospice provider. The Clinic also provides information for those wishing to serve local hospice providers in a volunteer capacity.
- Webmd.com – Webmd is a great site for any medical information and hospice is no exception. The sites starts with an overview that explains exactly what hospice is, who it is for and the general services to expect from hospice providers. That is just the beginning to the information to be found on this site. The hospice section continues with more detailed information under additional subtitles.
- caringinfo.org – This is another non-profit site that provides resources for all different stages of life and care. It has information for those simply wanting to prepare for the future, individuals in end of life situations, caregivers and even information for employer’s regarding ways they can be supportive of employees dealing with their own or a loved one’s final days of life.
- nhpco.org – This is the site for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. There is plenty of information for everyone on this site but it appears to have some of the best resources for hospice providers. It includes links to education and conferences and current news regarding hospice care.
- nahc.org – This is the official site of the National Association of Home Care and Hospice. This site is mainly focused on providing resources to hospice providers. It includes information regarding current legal issues, pending legislation and educational opportunities for hospice providers. It does also include information for consumers and media as well.
- Eldercare.gov – This site is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides assistance in finding services regarding care of the elderly in specific locations. These service listings include hospice care but also include several other services related to caring for the elderly that may be helpful in a hospice situation as well.
End of life situations are difficult for any family to deal with. Becoming informed about the resources available to you and your loved one can certainly ease some of the stress involved.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Can Good Care Produce Bad Health?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ethics: When the Patient and Family Members Disagree | Pallium India
credit: mynameisharsha
An article by Dr Robert L Fine from Dallas, Texas, USA in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (Vol 40, No.4, October 2010) highlights the importance of patient-centered care.
He asks, what would you do when the patient who has gone through dialysis for many years, at the end of his life expresses a wish not to be resuscitated and then becomes too weak to argue, and the family insists on resuscitation for “religious reasons”?
The obvious answer would be to go by the patient’s wishes, but it is not an easy thing for the team to do, when faced with the angry family. (In India, often, the family would simply take the patient away to a high-tech hospital in the face of such confrontation).
Dr Fine suggests that often physicians “acquiesce to the most insistent voice in the room”. The patient is weak and is less liable to be heard any longer!
He says, ‘among the rationalizations… for such avoidance behaviors are, “I’m getting paid to do the wrong thing, but that’s the system we live in and it’s not my problem to fix”, or the more cynical, “The patient should have chosen a better family”. Another common excuse….is “Dead patients don’t sue, but angry relatives do”.
The author goes on to explain the importance of keeping the focus on the patient. Taking decision-making away from individuals to “ethical committees” can help resolve the problem. Indeed!
Keeping the Patient at the Center of Patient- and Family-Centered Care
Abstract – The practice of palliative care typically refers to the focus of treatment as the patient and family. Tending to the needs of both patients and their families is usually good, but what should clinicians do when they perceive the best interests, needs, or treatment preferences of the patient are in conflict with those of the family or other surrogate?
Physicians may be able to suppress the inevitable moral cognitive dissonance of such circumstances, write orders, and walk away, but other health care professionals, especially nurses, may not have it so easy. This article suggests practical steps to obviate conflict in such circumstances before offering an ethical analysis focusing on notions of autonomy, beneficence, and true caring for patients, especially those near the end of life.
The limitations of surrogate decision makers are considered and legal liability concerns are briefly explored, ultimately leading to the conclusion that keeping the patient at the center is sine qua non of patient- and family-centered care.
Advanced Directives Workshop at Mountain Lakes Medical Center
Regency Hospice will present "5 Wishes" an advanced directives workshop at Mountain Lakes Medical Center on Thursday, January 20th from 2:30 -3:30 p.m. in the conference room adjacent to the main dining room. For more information, call 706-490-2824 or the Regency Hospice office at 1-800-577-8791. Free admission and take home materials.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Time Off For Good Behavior
I can't say I am disappointed about having a "snow day".
Just like school, I was pretty excited to see the snow on the ground this morning. But then again, I am blessed to have shelter, food and family. This turned out to be a day of gratitude rather than worry over what work is left undone.
I wonder if school - I mean work is on for tomorrow.
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