In this episode, we begin our series on the New York State OPWDD MOLST checklist by understanding why and when it’s necessary to fill out a MOLST checklist. We will also begin the step by step process of filling one out.

In this episode, we discuss some of the most common myths and misconceptions about hospice and share the realities: who can receive hospice care; what hospice provides; where and for how long hospice care can happen...and why hospice doesn't mean giving up, "doing nothing," and just waiting to die.

In this episode, we wrap up our series on symptom management by highlighting the need for frequent monitoring and potentially aggressive medication management when people are hours or days from dying. We cover the ethics of using intensive measures, including the Principle of Double Effect, and discuss why such measures can make the difference between a "good" death and a bad death.

In this episode, we cover delirium, a symptom that can be distressing for patients and caregivers alike. We discuss different types of delirium, who gets it - and why, and how delirium and dementia are different. We also talk about approaches for managing delirium, both non-pharmacologic and medication-based.

In this episode, we continue our series on symptom management with a focus on nausea, a symptom with multiple causes. We'll talk about addressing the underlying causes of nausea. We'll also talk about medication options, some of which are commonly used for other conditions and whose use - and usefulness -may surprise some listeners.

In this episode, we begin our series on symptom management by focusing on dyspnea, or shortness of breath. This symptom can affect people with any advanced illness and severely impact quality of life. Fortunately, there are many effective remedies, which we'll discuss in some detail.

In this episode, we’ll talk about why warning shots and asking permission are the most important things to do when you are sharing bad news with our patients.

In this episode, we’ll take a deeper dive into how to talk about life sustaining treatments without spooking our patients.

In this episode, we’ll break down the “how to’s” of introducing code status conversations and the logistics of filling out the MOLST form.

In this episode, we’ll talk about picking our battles and choosing the right words to say when emotions are running high.

In this episode, we’ll lay the foundation for setting agendas, organizing, and orchestrating family meetings for goals of care discussions.

Who gets to decide? In this episode, we introduce the basics of advance directive documents and the laws around surrogate decision making in NYS as defined by the Family Health Care Decisions Act of 2010.

Consult nuts and bolts: in this episode, we discuss the who, the when, and the how of palliative care consultation. What patients are most appropriate, when in the course of their illness should they be referred, and some consult etiquette.

Opioids 101: In this episode, we discuss the different types of pain people present with, what type of pain is appropriate for a palliative care consult, and how to approach opioid treatment safely and effectively.

Introduction to Palliative Care and Hospice: in this episode, we dive right in to what palliative care is as a medical specialty, how we explain it to our patients and families, and how it differs from Hospice.