Mary Beth Billie, DNP, RN-BC, CCM

Chronic Care Connexions

Studies have shown 86% of Medicare patients prefer to spend their final days at home; yet 25-39% die in acute care hospitals, 70% are hospitalized in the last 90 days, and 29% receive intensive care in the last 30 days.  

Evidence suggests that earlier conversations with patients with a serious illness about their goals and priorities are associated with enhanced goal concordance, improved quality of life, reduced suffering, better patient and family coping, higher patient satisfaction and less non beneficial care and costs. Despite the importance of these conversations, most foundational education programs do not provide clinicians with the knowledge and skills to assess and then address expressed desires and needs of patients with serious illnesses.

This presentation provides case managers with an introduction to serious illness conversations, key communication skills, the role of the interprofessional team, patient identification criteria and the use of an evidence-based Serious Illness Conversation guide to prepare them to engage in these crucial conversations.

CEUS / Contact Hours 
This activity has been submitted to CCMC for CCM 1.0 CEUs