Honoring a Dying Patient's Last Wish

Last minute discharge planning is not always easy when there are several parties involved but I would like to share the amazing teamwork involving the Palliative Care and Oncology teams, the family, case manager, social work, the VAMC, and a hospice in Richlands, WV. 

On Monday, a family on 10 South was desperate to get their loved one home (2 hours away in WV) because he did not want to die here in the hospital.  This discharge was time sensitive because looked as if he was imminently dying with only hours to live.  The family had already been in contact with the VAMC to discuss the hospice referral.  The case manager coordinated discharge with the VAMC, the family and Hospice.  The hospice agency arranged for equipment to be delivered in the afternoon.  Ambulance transportation was arranged by the social worker and patient arrived home just before midnight.  The hospice nurse was at the home when the patient arrived to do the admission at MIDNIGHT. 

The case manager spoke with the hospice nurse on next morning and was notified that patient had made it through the night and the family was celebrating the life of their beloved, it was “like a party at their house”.  The patient’s siblings were there with numerous other loved ones, reminiscing about their childhood and past good times. 

The hospice nurse called the case manager the following morning with news that the patient had died peacefully 24 hours after getting home with his family at his side. 

It’s always a privilege to honor a patient’s last wish to die at home.  THIS is why we do what we do!