Do not resuscitate. These are three powerful and confusing words for families and patients. They are words weighty with the implication of inactivity. The misperceptions—and subsequent heartbreaking conversations—caused by this three-word phrase are real. Families are torn over the language of…
We’re living longer these days, and that’s certainly a good thing. Thanks to advances in medicine and technology, chronic diseases are more manageable. We are living with them, and even once terminal illnesses, for longer periods in our lives. This…
By: Dr. Cleanne Cass As a palliative care and hospice physician, I have seen husbands, wives, children, and friends of patients struggle to make the right decisions about the kind of health care to obtain for their loved ones. They…
As the CEO of Ohio’s Hospice, a lot of people know me as someone deeply passionate about reshaping how we care for patients and their families. What I don’t always talk about, though, is why I’m so passionate about transforming…
Ohio's Hospice was founded to strengthen not-for-profit community hospices. By joining forces, the affiliates of Ohio's Hospice share resources and are able to thrive and continue to provide valued services while also benefiting from increased sustainability in a highly competitive…
In my reading, a title caught my eye. “Nurses have cited a lack of critical thinking as one of the top five most likely causes of nursing errors” (Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2017). I cannot tell you how many times…
We are living in turbulent times. Rampant change and uncertainty create an unsettling and uncomfortable environment for us. In times like these, it is important to find familiar touchstones and institutions to trust. At Ohio’s Hospice, we strive to be…
Death is a natural part of life. All of us are born; all of us will pass away. But few of us know what death actually looks like. Many elderly people now live alone or in nursing homes, and death…
I’ve always believed that truly great healthcare organizations are led by those who understand the value of humble over hierarchical, of listening over lecturing. That’s why, when we decided to form an alliance of not-for-profit hospices across Ohio, we put…
The importance of being in the moment. Dr. Thomson explains how mindfulness is important at the patient's bedside. When I began work in the field, being a hospice and palliative physician full-time was the exception. The field was not yet a…