When It's Time for Hospice

In this episode, Ric Shields interviews Dr. Ed Rylander, a board-certified physician in family medicine and hospice and palliative care, about the topic of hospice care. Dr. Rylander explains that hospice care is a misunderstood program that provides essential support to terminally ill patients and their families. He outlined the roles of the hospice team, which includes a nurse, chaplain, social worker, home health aides, a volunteer coordinator and others. Dr. Rylander also addresses misconceptions about hospice care, such as the belief that it hastens death or that patients must die within six months. He emphasized that hospice care is a benefit that provides comprehensive support to patients in their final months, and that it is not a mandate to make people die.