Palliative Care Fundamentals Flashcards

Which of the following is an advance directive?

Answer: A living will or healthcare proxy

Advance directives are legal documents such as living wills or healthcare proxy designations that express a patient's wishes for future medical care.

The concept of 'total pain' in palliative care includes:

Answer: Physical, emotional, social, and spiritual pain

Dame Cicely Saunders introduced 'total pain' to describe the multidimensional suffering experienced by dying patients, encompassing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions.

What is a healthcare proxy?

Answer: A person designated to make healthcare decisions if the patient is unable to do so

A healthcare proxy (also called a healthcare power of attorney) is a person legally designated to make medical decisions on behalf of a patient who cannot make decisions for themselves.

Which of the following is a core principle of hospice care?

Answer: Treating the patient and family as a unit of care

Hospice care treats the patient and family together as the unit of care, providing support for both the dying individual and those who love them.

In hospice care, bereavement support is provided for how long after a patient's death?

Answer: At least 13 months

Medicare-certified hospice programs are required to provide bereavement services to surviving family members for at least 13 months following the patient's death.

Which organization accredits hospice programs in the United States?

Answer: The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission (TJC) is a major accrediting body for hospice programs in the US, though CMS certification is also required for Medicare reimbursement.