In partnership with

For Those Who Seek Unbiased News.

Be informed with 1440! Join 3.5 million readers who enjoy our daily, factual news updates. We compile insights from over 100 sources, offering a comprehensive look at politics, global events, business, and culture in just 5 minutes. Free from bias and political spin, get your news straight.

Join for free today!

A Physician’s Challenge with Hospice Care Conversations

Dr. Emily Harrison sat in her office, the weight of the day pressing heavily on her shoulders. The clock on the wall ticked softly, marking the passing of time—a reminder that she had another difficult conversation ahead.

She had been a physician for over twenty years, specializing in oncology, and had seen countless patients through the various stages of their cancer journeys. But no matter how much experience she had, discussing hospice care never became easier.

Today, she was meeting with the Parker family. Mr. Parker, a vibrant man in his early sixties, had been battling pancreatic cancer for the past eighteen months. Despite aggressive treatments, the cancer had spread, and his body was no longer responding to chemotherapy. Dr. Emily knew it was time to discuss hospice care, a conversation she dreaded but knew was necessary.

Navigating the Conversation of Hospice Care

Healthcare professionals are often called upon to guide patients and their families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Among these, discussing hospice care can be particularly daunting. 

This week, we highlight the experiences of a dedicated physician who regularly engages in these conversations when an illness becomes terminal. Her story sheds light on the difficulties she faces, not just in presenting hospice as an option but in overcoming the widespread misconception that choosing hospice care means giving up.

As she walked down the hallway toward the consultation room, Dr. Emily’s mind raced. She had spent years refining her approach, learning to balance honesty with compassion. But lately, these conversations had been weighing on her more than ever. She knew the impact her words would have on the Parkers—how they might feel as though she was giving up on Mr. Parker, that she was asking them to surrender.

The door to the consultation room was slightly ajar. Dr. Emily took a deep breath and knocked gently before entering. Inside, she found Mr. Parker sitting in a chair, his wife Sarah by his side, and their adult daughter, Iris, standing near the window. Their faces were a mixture of hope and fear, a look she had seen too many times before.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Parker, Mrs. Parker, Iris,” Dr. Emily greeted them warmly as she took a seat across from them. “How are you feeling today, Mr. Parker?”

“I’m hanging in there, Doc,” Mr. Parker replied, forcing a smile. “But I’m tired. Really tired.”

Dr. Emily nodded, her heart aching for the man before her. She had watched him endure so much, always with a positive attitude, always fighting. But now, she could see the toll it had taken on him.

“I want to talk to you about your options moving forward,” Dr. Emily began, choosing her words carefully. “We’ve tried several treatments, and I know you’ve fought hard, but unfortunately, the cancer is not responding the way we had hoped.”

Silence filled the room, and she could see the tension building in their expressions.

“What are you saying, Dr. Harrison?” Sarah Parker asked, her voice trembling slightly.

The Reality of Hospice Care

Hospice care is designed to support patients during the final phase of a terminal illness, focusing on comfort, pain management, and quality of life. However, the transition from curative treatment to hospice care is often misunderstood.

Many patients and their families equate this decision with surrendering the fight against the disease, which can lead to feelings of guilt, fear, and uncertainty.

We know that recommending hospice care is not about abandoning hope but rather about shifting the focus from aggressive treatment to ensuring that the patient's remaining time is as comfortable and meaningful as possible. Yet, despite a physician’s best efforts, these conversations are becoming difficult to initiate.

This is the reason why your partnership with physicians is critically important.

You are the expert. You have the education and knowledge worthy of sharing with these families. You are the trusted partner to take the burden off of the physician. Physicians treat symptoms and illnesses. When there’s nothing more to do, you have to be the resource they can depend on to discuss the next steps and possibilities with their families.

Dr. Emily took another deep breath, feeling the familiar tightness in her chest. “What I’m saying is that we’ve reached a point where the treatments we have available are unlikely to help. Continuing them could cause more harm than good. I think it’s time to consider hospice care.”

She watched as the words sank in. Mr. Parker’s face fell, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hope. Sarah’s hand tightened around her husband’s, and their daughter turned away, hiding tears.

“Hospice care?” Mr. Parker echoed, his voice filled with disbelief. “Are you saying I should give up?”

“No, not at all,” Dr. Emily said quickly, leaning forward to meet his gaze. “Hospice care isn’t about giving up. It’s about shifting our focus to comfort and quality of life. It’s about making sure you have the best possible care in this next phase, managing pain, and being with your family.”

“But what if I want to keep fighting?” he asked, his voice breaking. “I don’t want to leave them.”

Dr. Emily’s heart broke as she heard the desperation in his voice. This was the part of her job that she struggled with the most—trying to convey that choosing hospice care wasn’t a surrender but a different kind of bravery.

“Hospice care doesn’t mean you stop fighting,” she explained gently. “It just means we’re fighting in a different way. Instead of fighting the disease with treatments that aren’t working, we’re fighting to give you the best possible days ahead, free of pain, surrounded by the people you love.”

Sarah Parker wiped away tears, her voice cracking as she spoke. “But isn’t there anything else we can do, Dr. Harrison? Some new treatment or clinical trial?”

Dr. Emily shook her head slowly. “I’ve reviewed all the options, and there’s nothing that would be effective at this stage. I wish there were. But what we can do is ensure that the time you have left is spent in comfort, with dignity, and on your terms.”

The room was silent again, the weight of the reality sinking in. Dr. Emily waited, giving them the space to process the information. She knew this wasn’t a decision they would make lightly, and she respected that.

“I’m so sorry,” she continued softly. “I know this is incredibly difficult to hear, and I want you to know that I’m here for you every step of the way. We’ll make sure you’re not in pain, that you have support, and that you can focus on what matters most to you.”

Mr. Parker nodded slowly, his eyes filling with tears. “I just want to be with my family,” he whispered.

Dr. Emily reached out and placed her hand on his. “And you will be. Hospice care will allow you to do that. It’s not about giving up hope; it’s about finding hope in a different place—in the moments you have with your loved ones.”

The Parkers sat in quiet reflection, the initial shock giving way to acceptance. It wasn’t the outcome they had hoped for, but it was a path forward—a way to make the most of the time they had left together.

The Emotional Toll on Healthcare Professionals

For healthcare providers, the responsibility of discussing hospice care can take a significant emotional toll. Physicians dedicate their careers to providing the best possible care for their patients. We know they approach these conversations with compassion and honesty.

But have we asked them how they feel, whether they believe they are doing enough to help their patients and families understand the true purpose of hospice care?

This internal struggle is not uncommon. The desire to offer hope and healing is deeply ingrained in the medical profession. As a result, shifting the narrative from curative treatment to hospice care can feel like a departure from the very essence of what it means to be a healer.

The physician's concern is not just about delivering difficult news but about ensuring that her patients and their families are fully informed and supported as they make these critical decisions.

As Dr. Emily left the room, she felt a mixture of relief and sorrow. She knew she had done her best to guide them, but the emotional toll of these conversations was becoming harder to bear. Each time she had to tell a patient that their battle was nearing its end, a piece of her heart broke alongside theirs.

Back in her office, Dr. Emily sat down and closed her eyes, the day’s events replaying in her mind. She knew she needed to find a better way to have these conversations, a way that would ease the burden on both her and her patients.

But for now, all she could do was offer them the truth, delivered with compassion, and hope that it would be enough to guide them through the difficult journey ahead.

As the sun set outside her window, Dr. Emily made a silent vow to herself. She would continue to fight for her patients, even when the battle wasn’t against the disease but against the fear of what lay ahead. And she would find a way to make these conversations less about loss and more about the value of the time they had left, no matter how short it might be.

Team Approach Through Enhancing Communication and Support

One of the challenges physicians face is ensuring that their patients and their families fully understand what hospice care entails. There is a need for more comprehensive education—clear explanations that would demystify hospice care and present it not as an end, but as a continuation of care focused on the patient's well-being.

As hospice professionals, we need to take a proactive approach to assist our physician partners enhance communication with patients and families.

An example of how Dr. Emily changed her approach with the help of her hospice partners would be as follows:

1. Pre-emptive Education: Dr. Emily began to introduce the concept of hospice care earlier in her discussions with patients. She realized that by introducing the idea before it became an immediate necessity, patients and families would have more time to understand it as a natural part of the care continuum rather than an abrupt, last-resort option.

2. Empathetic Language: She worked on refining her language, choosing words that conveyed the compassion behind the hospice care decision. She started using phrases like "comfort-focused care" and "quality of life enhancement" to help patients see hospice as a way to preserve their dignity and comfort in their final days.

3. Collaborative Decision-Making: Dr. Emily knew that patients and families needed to feel involved in the decision-making process. She made it a point to ask open-ended questions like, "What are your hopes for the time you have left?" and "How can we best support you and your family?" This approach allowed her to tailor her recommendations to align with the patient's values and wishes.

4. Utilizing Support Teams: Recognizing that these conversations could be overwhelming, Dr. Emily began involving a multidisciplinary team, including social workers, chaplains, and hospice care coordinators, earlier in the process. This team approach ensured that families had access to a broader range of emotional, spiritual, and practical support.

5. Providing Resources: To further support her patients and their families, Dr. Emily compiled a comprehensive packet of resources about hospice care. This packet included information on what to expect, how hospice care could be personalized to meet specific needs, and testimonials from other families who had benefited from hospice services. She found that having this tangible resource helped to alleviate some of the fear and uncertainty surrounding the transition.

Does your hospice agency have a newsletter? Does your agency have a CRM? Do you have an email list of physicians and referral partners?

Start educating your referral partners with beehiiv. Need help? Have questions? We can help launch your agency branded newsletter with beehiiv today. Link below. ⬇️

Until next time….