The authors argue that providing aggressive care at the end of life may go against patients’ wishes and results in significant costs. Instead, providers should take a patient-centered approach and make care decisions with the patient, the authors wrote.
The authors suggest several steps healthcare and policy leaders can take to make end-of-life care more patient-centered, according to the news release:
1. Educate medical residents on patient-centered care.
2. Consider changing Medicare policy to ensure only patients who want aggressive end-of-life treatment receive it.
3. Change hospital “scorecards,” such as accreditation requirements, to reflect the importance of patient-centered care, especially at the end of patients’ lives.
More Articles on Patient-Centered Care:
RWJF Grants $1.9M to Develop Patient-Centered Health Outcome Measures
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3 Factors Moving Healthcare From an Era of Physician-Driven to Patient-Driven Care
