“Reimbursing doctors who counsel patients about end-of-life care through Medicare can have a positive impact on millions of elderly Americans and their families. It’s a step in the right direction,” said Mary Minton, associate dean of the graduate nursing program at South Dakota State University. Last week, Medicare, a federal program that insures elderly and disabled Americans, announced plans to reimburse doctors and other qualified health care professionals for talking to patients about end-of-life care. A final decision will be made by Nov. 1.
Minton led a team of nurse-researchers who examined the palliative and end-of-life services offered in South Dakota health care facilities, including clinics, assisted living centers, specialty clinics, hospice and home-health providers, hospitals and nursing homes. The research highlighted the need for education in advanced care directives and planning and palliative and end-of-life care. See article posted June 3, 2014, on Newswise entitled "Dying with Dignity: the Challenge of Palliative Care in Rural America." “Intentional palliative and end-of-life care begins with provider initiated conversations that ultimately alleviate stress associated with urgent decision making and which enhance quality of living at end of life,” added associate professor Minton, who did her dissertation on spousal bereavement. She has been a nurse for nearly 35 years, including seven years as a parish nurse.
She can be reached for comment on her cell phone at 605-393 5762 or at [email protected].
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