RT Book, Section
A1 Widera, Eric W.
A1 Smith, Alexander K.
A2 Williams, Brie A.
A2 Chang, Anna
A2 Ahalt, Cyrus
A2 Chen, Helen
A2 Conant, Rebecca
A2 Landefeld, C. Seth
A2 Ritchie, Christine
A2 Yukawa, Michi
SR Print(0)
ID 1100065223
T1 Goals of Care & Consideration of Prognosis
T2 Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Geriatrics, 2e
YR 2014
FD 2014
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-179208-0
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1100065223
RD 2024/04/19
AB Goals  of  care  discussions  provide  a  broad  framework  for  decision  making,  helping  align  patients’  underlying  values  and  hopes  with  the  realistic  and  achievable  options  for  care  given  the  current  medical  circumstances.  This  is  no  easy  task,  however,  as  patients  and  their  family  members  may  simultaneously  express  multiple  goals  for  their  health  care,  which  may  include  maintenance  of  independence,  prevention  of  illness,  prolongation  of  life,  relief  of  suffering,  and  maximization  of  time  with  family  and  friends.  The  relative  importance  placed  on  each  goal  may  change  over  time  as  new  information  is  shared  with  the  patient  or  family,  such  as  new  diagnosis  or  a  worsening  prognosis.  These  goals  should  serve  as  a  guide  from  which  patients  and  their  physicians  can  develop  specific  plans  for  treatment  when  dealing  with  acute  or  chronic  illness.