Background: Reversing the life trajectory of hospitalized patients can be challenging. Sixty percent of Americans die in acute care hospitals. Identification of the patient care goals and directives frequently happens after many days of aggressive, uncomfortable and costly interventions at the hospital. We aimed to elucidate if identification of care goals earlier in Intensive Care [...]

Background: Hospitalists have an increasing role in caring for patients with advanced illness. Due to time constraints, lack of experience and the sensitivity of the topic, it is challenging for Hospitalists to engage in adequate conversations regarding advanced care planning. Moreover, when these conversations do occur, documentation of Advanced Directives and Code Status is frequently [...]

Background: Health care proxies (HCP), decision-making surrogates and involved family members often struggle with indecision when offered the option of went withdrawal (VW) for a patient who is intubated. A VW is a procedure offered when an intubated patient fails to demonstrate meaningful recovery or the patient is not likely to survive given the extent [...]