Debunking Myths About End-of-Life Care in Heart Failure: Not Just End of Life

This session will identify common misconceptions about the implementation of palliative care (PC) in heart failure, including: 1) PC is only for those with a short life expectancy; 2) PC is only for those ineligible for advanced therapies; 3) patients receiving PC cannot pursue curative or life-prolonging treatments; 4) PC is irrelevant if symptoms are stable; and 5) discussing PC means the healthcare team has given up.

Attendees will explore evidence-based strategies for integrating PC in line with current clinical guidelines and research. Two patient case exemplars will be highlighted to explore opportunities for successful palliative care interventions in the heart failure trajectory.

Agenda

• Moderator - Martha Saylor, PhD, MS, RN, FHFSA
• Moderator - Avery Bechthold, PhD, RN
• Principles of Palliative Care, Common Misconceptions, and Communication Strategies (Case Study 1) - TBD
• Palliative Care Across the Advanced Heart Failure Trajectory (Case Study 2) - Jill Steiner, MD, MS
• Panel Discussion