Talking in the Crisis - for Providers

This session is for providers and their loved-ones to discuss those moments of crisis and how we can navigate through them more positively. We will discuss and thresh out different methods we can use to assist and comfort patients and loved-ones during a crisis, and to identify and abstain from behaviors and often long-held beliefs that are unhealthy and at times even harmful. We aspire to assist providers in understanding the fears of loved-ones during the dying process and to improve provider's understanding of the impact their words have and encourage clear, consice language during a crisis. We will encourage providers to examine thoughtfully their own feelings and attitudes about death and dying in order to be more comfortable when discussing these issues with patients and families. We will discuss the importance of the primary care physician's role and involvment in end-of-life discussions prior to the time of crisis.