Providing serious medical information is challenging. These are helpful steps and phases.

1. Use simple language.
   – “I wish I had better news, but the biopsy showed cancer.”
   – “I’m afraid you have had an early pregnancy loss.”
2. Listen, use silence, and acknowledge emotion.
   – “This is hard.”
   – “I know this is not what you were hoping for.”
   – “What is going through your mind?”
3. Equip the patient for the next step(s).
   – “I would like you to see Dr.________________.”
   – “The next step is an MRI.”
   – “Would you like me to discuss this with your family?”
   – It’s time to focus our care on your comfort.”
4. Use a warm hand off and follow up phone calls/emails to avoid a sense of abandonment. 

For more information, call our providers at 360-814-5550 or email:

• Erika Pope: epope@hospicenw.org
• Leslie Estep: lestep@hospicenw.org
• Anita Meyer: ameyer@hospicenw.org
• Lissa Anderson: landerson2@hospicenw.org

All Palliative Pearls and other resources can be found by clicking Providers at the top of this page.

If you would like to receive monthly Palliative Pearls via email, please email us at pputney@hospicenw.org.