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Walk the Even Hospital Database by book and chapter — the raw source passages that ground Ask, DDx, and the rest.
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End-of-life discussions or advance care planning (ACP) with family and primary care providers can be challenging. Still, they are necessary to maintain patient autonomy and reach a well-informed decision. Studies have shown that less than 30% of survey participants have an advance directive. Most individuals with advance directives share similar characteristics: Chronic illness Regular access to healthcare Higher income Higher education Older age. Racial and ethnic disparities also have accounted for a lower percentage of advance directives, particularly among non-White respondents.[1][2][3]
Each year, countless hours and dollars are wasted treating terminally ill patients. In many cases, a prior DNR may have resolved the problem. All healthcare workers are responsible for discussing DNR and advanced directive status with their patients. The goal is to educate the family and the patient that a DNR does not mean the patient will have a poor quality of life—just the opposite. It is vital to assure the family that the patient will be made comfortable and any pain issues will be addressed.