It's Health Care Decisions Week: Talk to your patients about their end-of-life wishes The California Medical Association (CMA) recognizes National Health Care Decisions week by encouraging physicians to speak with their patients about the importance of completing an advance directive to make sure their end-of-life wishes are known. Experts say only about 20-30 percent of Americans have completed an advance directive, even though all people age 18 and older should have one. In California, advance directives are the legally recognized format for “living wills.” An advance directive enables individuals to make sure that their health care wishes are known in advance and considered ... April 19, 2017 General Advance Directive, Advanced Care Planning, End of Life Issues, POLST 0 0 Comment Read More »
CSU and palliative care coalition launch eduction programs on advance care planning and billing In response to the nation’s growing demand for physicians trained in advance care planning conversations, the California State University Institute for Palliative Care has partnered with the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California to co-design a comprehensive continuing education curriculum for health care professionals. New this year, Medicare providers can be reimbursed for advance care planning conversations with patients. The newly implemented reimbursement provides an impetus for clinicians to spend time exploring patient health care preferences and documenting goals of care. “Patients want to have these conversations with their providers, and ... April 28, 2016 General Advance Health Care Directive, End of Life Issues, Medicare, Palliative Care, Advance Directive, CME 0 0 Comment Read More »
Patient resources on end-of-life decisions now available online The California Medical Association (CMA) encourages Californians to think about and talk with loved ones about their wishes for end-of-life medical care. CMA has developed a number of resources to help providers, patients and loved ones with making these important end-of-life decisions. The information, available in English and Spanish, includes legally recognized documents such as Advance Directives, Do-Not-Resuscitate forms and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). CMA's Advance Health Care Directive and POLST toolkits also include wallet identification cards and answer frequently asked questions from patients. Physicians are also encouraged ... August 28, 2015 General Do Not Resuscitate, End of Life Issues, POLST, Advance Directive 0 0 Comment Read More »
