There’s no easy way to discuss end-of-life care. And there’s no easy way for patients and families to make decisions related to it. But there are advances in technology that could help providers frame the discussion to help patients and families better understand their situation and gain confidence in the choice they are making.
“I do believe that we’re really at a point that we’re starting to see data analytics and predictive modeling for individuals, especially as we start to look at population health,” says Michael L. Munger, MD, a family physician in Overland Park, Kansas, and president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “These tools help you not only with your end-of-life discussion, but they are also going to lead to more and better utilization of palliative care services.”
By Rachael Zimlich, RN, is a writer in Columbia Station, Ohio.
