Medical Ethics Advisor – February 1, 2014
February 1, 2014
View Issues
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Hospice use increasing — but so is ICU utilization, say new data
While hospice use steadily increased and deaths in the hospital declined, intensive care unit care in the last month of life increased, according to two recent studies. -
Expand bioethics role: Become more involved in organizational ethics
Some bioethicists are expanding their role beyond case consultation into organizational ethics, but may encounter barriers such as lack of support from leadership. -
Educate long-term care providers on end-of-life issues
There is a need for bioethicists to educate patients and providers at extended care homes on end-of-life issues. -
Ethical responses when cost of care becomes the issue
More than half of rheumatologists who responded to a 2013 survey reported the high cost of treatment for their patients as an ethical concern. -
Improve ethics consults based on feedback and critique
Regularly scheduled peer review, surveys of stakeholders, and demonstration of continuous improvement of policies are some approaches to improve ethics consults. -
Data collection at point of care: Does project require IRB approval?
More data are being collected at the point of care with the goal of improving quality, but there is widespread uncertainty as to what kind of oversight quality improvement research requires. -
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