Description: 

This audio podcast from NPR’s All Things Considered on November 17, 2009 is about the quality of dying at the Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  Their success is based on the number of patients who have completed advanced directives– a task that is aided by specially trained nurses who spend up to an hour with each patient working through the often confusing and daunting paperwork.  This has increased the operating costs at Lutheran Hospital, but they view it as the cost of doing business and believe it is crucial to good patient care.  Towards the end of the podcast the discussion turns to the health care bill in which there is an item that would help to cover the costs of what Lutheran Hospital is providing on a daily basis.

Link: 

Visit Site

Related Resources: 

Geripal Blog Post from November 18, 2009: “The Best Town to Die In”

End of Life – thoughts from an MD: Where’s the Best City to Die?