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Western Reserve CareLink


Celebrating 40 Years of Compassionate Care


​Forty years ago, a small group of grassroots visionaries saw an unmet need in our community and filled it. They marshaled their passion and their resources, and with the support of like-minded friends, they established Cancer Family Service, Inc. This was the forerunner of what would eventually become Hospice of the Western Reserve.


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January 20 2019

Categories: News and Community Clinical Connections 


Q&A with Benjamin Li, M.D., The MetroHealth System - Conversations and Compassion at the End of Life


​Benjamin Li, M.D. is the Director of the Cancer Center, Division of Surgical Oncology, The MetroHealth System. Dr. Li shares his insights on patient conversations and end-of-life care with Clinical Connections.


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June 29 2018

Categories: News and Community Medical and Clinical Clinical Connections 


Register Today: A Well-Planned Life


​As I begin my new dual role, which includes serving as the new Director of the Hospice Institute, I am particularly enthusiastic about the theme of our 21st Annual Conference: “A Well-Planned Life: Preparing for the Transitions Ahead.”


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August 02 2017

Categories: News and Community Medical and Clinical Clinical Connections 


When is a Patient with Heart Failure Ready for Hospice?


Determining when a patient with heart failure is ready for referral to hospice can be challenging. The trajectory of heart failure is different than that of many diseases, like cancer. While cancer progresses in a linear fashion with a predictable decline, heart failure is characterized by episodic exacerbations punctuated by periods of stability. This relative unpredictability, combined with moments of perceived improvement, makes deciding the time to initiate hospice care challenging. Adding to the challenge is the fact that patients can die from progressive pump failure or sudden death. Current therapies are meant to prevent both while addressing symptoms and co-morbidities of heart failure.


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July 26 2016

Categories: Medical and Clinical Clinical Connections 


Comprehensive Advance Care Planning


Although completion of a living will, and in some states, a POLST (physician order for life-sustaining treatment), are quality markers for hospitals, insurers, and other healthcare organizations, form completion seldom signifies effective communication. Effective advance care planning (ACP) requires the practitioner to understand medical conditions, identify physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs, estimate life expectancy, and elicit values. This process is more likely than a form alone to align medical goals and treatment burden with patient needs.
 
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July 22 2016

Categories: News and Community Medical and Clinical Clinical Connections Dr. Barbara Messinger-Rapport 

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