Research News
May 19, 2009
HSR&D Research Contributes to CNN's Conversation about End-of-Life Care
David Casarett, MD, part of HSR&D's Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, and a staff physician at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, recently provided expert commentary to CNN in a report about families preparing for the death of a loved one.
Dr. Casarett has studied the subject of end-of-life care and palliative care extensively within VA. As principal investigator for the Family Assessment of Treatment at End-of-Life (FATE) Survey Development study, Dr. Casarett worked to develop and validate the FATE instrument for use as a system-wide tool to assess the quality of end-of-life care for Veterans. Most recently, Dr. Casarett began the Veterans and Families Priorities for Palliative Home Care Services study, which has multiple objectives surrounding palliative care. Dr. Casarett is also the director of PROMISE (Performance Reporting and Outcomes Measurement to Improve the Standard of care at End-of-life), a quality measurement center that currently involves 12 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) and will be VA-wide (21 VISNs) in FY10.
In addition to Casarett's work within VA, he wrote the forthcoming book, Last Acts, which explores the ways in which people spend the last moments of their lives. The book may serve as a resource for family members and loved ones in understanding the actions of those already deceased, and may provide insight for family members coping with the impending death of a loved one.
Dr. Casarett's commentary for CNN included a discussion of individual reactions to a diagnosis of critical illness, with an emphasis on the lack of fundamental change in behavior experienced by most dying patients. Casarett also mentioned concerns experienced during the final days or weeks of life, when the wishes of well-meaning family members and friends often conflict with the patient's. Dr. Casarett's commentary can be read in its entirety at: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/08/death.goodbye.coping/index.html