| Fundamental Approach to Caring for
The Terminally Ill |
Evaluation |
Determine if the patient meets eligibility requirements.
History and physical records.
Lab results, tests, blood work… |
Comprehension |
Understand the direction of the patient and family.
What are they looking for. |
Compilation of Realistic Outcomes, Goals- |
Consideration
of patient and families needs.
Systems that
may impact the patient’s care, payer sources,
physician, living
arrangements.
Expectations
and regulatory requirements. |
Development of Plan of Care- |
Consideration of the needs of the patient.
Physical
needs, Emotional needs, Social needs, Spiritual needs.
Consideration of the needs of the family.
Care to be delivered efficiently and effectively.
Helpful hints-
Consider your role as well as the team’s role in the contributions
you can make. What do they need now or today?
Patient and family can define these to you.
Time management is key to success, development
of a schedule.
More equipment and supplies does not always equal
better care.
Define what is really important to their needs,
it may be you, rather than a band-aid.
Utilization of your team
members (interdisciplinary).
Listen. |
Defining the Staff requirements |
Medical attention vs. the Non-Medical attention.
What staff needs to be involved for optimal care.
When staff is to make visits and frequency of those visits. |
Anticipate |
| Results from our interventions.
Consider the perceptions of the patient, family, relatives, friends, others.
What are their expectations?
Will the plan cover the needs if /when the needs
change?
If the needs change are we prepared to change with
them?
|
Pros & Cons |
What will be the outcomes from our interventions?
Do the Pros outweigh the Cons for the patient and family?
Monitor or measure the interventions. |
Outcomes |
Measure and document the outcomes, then evaluate.
Do they fit with the plan of care? |
Redefine |
Are the interventions working or not? Can we improve upon it?
Make the care
as secure as possible for the wellness of the patient and family. Good care equals
appropriate interventions. Bad care equals wrong interventions.
Begin again. |
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