Health and Human Services Makes Report on Advance Directives Available Online
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently posted a June 2007 report online, “Literature Review on Advance Directives.” Conducted by the RAND Corporation, the report examines medical literature on the use of advance directives, whether they have met their intended goals, and what can be done to enhance the use and value of advance directives and advance care planning. The report also reviews past efforts to promote advance directives, including the national Last Acts campaign (funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) which ended in 2005 and other state-specific programs.
The conclusions of the report are not encouraging. The reports states, “. . . evidence suggests that end-of-life decision making in the United States is often poorly implemented with patients receiving care inconsistent with preferences toward the end of life, a poor match of aggressive care with prognosis, undue suffering, and wasted resources.” Advance directives are not helping improve patient care the way they were intended, but they offer hope that there is promise if we continue to investigate and learn from the most successful models of advance care planning.
The report may also be downloaded as a PDF file.
The conclusions of the report are not encouraging. The reports states, “. . . evidence suggests that end-of-life decision making in the United States is often poorly implemented with patients receiving care inconsistent with preferences toward the end of life, a poor match of aggressive care with prognosis, undue suffering, and wasted resources.” Advance directives are not helping improve patient care the way they were intended, but they offer hope that there is promise if we continue to investigate and learn from the most successful models of advance care planning.
The report may also be downloaded as a PDF file.
Labels: end-of-life
Posted by: HFA permalink
3 Comments:
My name is Kathy, and I am the primary caregiver for my 79 year old Dad who has Alzheimer's disease and lives with me in North Carolina.
I am writing a daily blog on my Alzheimer's caregiver website that shows the lighter side of caring for someone with dementia.
Please pass this link along to anyone you feel would enjoy it.
www.KnowItAlz.com
Thanks,
Kathy
I just read your article about the need for more understanding of advance directives.
I wanted to let you know I am a documentary maker and hospice volunteer in Atlanta, Georgia.
I've produced a short documentary about end-of-life decision making, palliative care, caregiving and hospice.
It's called 203 Days.
You can view it in its entirety at the following University of Connecticut website along with a study guide.
It is an unflinching look at the day-to-day interactions between patient and caregiver, in this case an 89 year old woman who is living with her daughter.
http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/days/days.html
203 Days just won the First Place 2007 Media Award from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
If you'd like more information please go to my website
http://bbarash.com/bb_203days.htm
I hope this film is helpful to people who want to know more about some of the most common experiences for caregiver and patient at this difficult time.
Bailey Barash
Bailey,
Your documentary reminds me of an article I read not long ago about college student volunteers a Hospice in Charlottesville, VA. These kids have started a project they call “Life Reviews” for patients and their families.
If you’re ever near Charlottesville, you could stop by and give them some professional pointers and advice!
Here is the article:
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=7799&pid=699
Kimberly
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