It is seldom that I am able to provide a conversation that will be needed by nearly every family at some point in their lives. I am blessed to have had this intimate end-of-life conversation with two medical providers who have answered the very important calling of working in hospice care. My guests are: Dr. Larry Skendzel - Medical Director, Gundersen Hospice and Dr. Jasmine Hudnall - Department Chair: Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Medical Director: Advance Care Planning department, Gundersen Health System. Following this audio outline, resource links are provided.

02:50 – Hospice: As a noun is it a person, a place or a thing?

07:00 – Young age hospice compared to elderly end-of-life care.

09:00 – Letting go, on our own schedule – Individual mysteries.

12:30 – Rewards of working as a medical caregiver.

14:45 – Bettering the quality of life.

18:00 – What improvements can be made?

20:00 – Death at home or in a facility.

21:00 – Four levels of Hospice care.

23:15 – Who makes-up the team?

26:15 – Religious faith and personal spirituality.

28:15 – Volunteers.

30:15 – Covid’s effect on Hospice.

32:35 – Fear of Hospice.

36:30 – Who pays the costs?

40:30 – Initiating the hospice conversation.

43:00 – How are Doctors trained?

46:25 – Has medical training changed?

49:45 – What do you wish your patients knew?

51:45 – Hospice verses Palliative medicine.

55:40 – Where do I find more information?

57:00 – Additional online Resources.

57:30 – A typical day as a hospice doctor.

Additional Resources:

https://www.gundersenhealth.org/palmer/hospice

https://www.nationalcoalitionhpc.org

https://www.nhpco.org/