Mourning Dove Medical Presents Dr. G at the Heart of Healthcare 

Guests:

Co-author Sharon Harris, LVN, CHPLN, EOLD 💕 https://www.serenityendoflifedoula.com

- Member of NHPCO End-of-Life Doula Council https://www.nhpco.org/about-nhpco/committees-and-councils/end-of-life-doula-council/end-of-life-doula-council-roster/

Cardiologist Colleen Fearon, MD 🫀 https://www.newmanrh.org/colleenfearon/

- Studied Biological Sciences at Georgia State University

- Doctorate received from Morehouse School of Medicine an HBCU

- Board Certified in Internal Medicine

- Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship completed at Loma Linda University Medical Center https://llu.edu

INTRO

February is American Heart Month

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/american-heart-month The campaign focuses on prevention of heart disease with #HealthyHabits (lowering cholesterol, controlling blood pressure, managing diabetes, increasing exercise, reducing stress, obesity, quit smoking, etc.), raising awareness about gender effects #GoRedForWomen #WearRedDay and Hands-Only CPR training #NationOfLifesavers HOWEVER there is no information about the END STAGE of Heart Disease (irreversible damage to the heart). 💜People also need education and empowerment about the trajectory of chronic heart disease, from diagnosis to the end-of-life (terminal illness).

1. Story (theme) Palliative care patient suffering from a Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) exacerbation did not want to be hospitalized again. She was at a decision making crossroads (hospital or home hospice). This person told Dr. G “I trust my cardiologist” and wanted to get advice from the specialist. IMPORTANT to Get palliative Care for additional support with this serious illness and Advance Care Planning https://x.com/getpalliative/status/1759669479926051136?s=46&t=3gA5xIkblMI3-C6jInh53w

2. Educate-Teaching points

Stages of Heart Failure https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure/classes-of-heart-failure

- End stages: Stage D Advance Heart Disease, NYHA Class 3 & 4 (symptoms: leg swelling, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc.)

The short story of “Mr. Paul” ~ approx 70-80 years old

- Married 50 years

- on routine home hospice care for only 4 weeks

- suffered 5 hospitalizations last 9 months of life for CHF exacerbations

- He did not know about hospice care (challenge)

2024_US_Prevalence_CoronaryHeartDisease.jpg 3,333×3,333 pixels

3. Empower -A Valuable resource written by Dr. G and Nurse Sharon to help people recognize when it’s time for hospice care to improve the quality of life for terminally people:

The Real Deal About Hospice: Short Stories Highlighting the Advantages of Hospice Care for Patients and Families by Kaishauna Guidry, MD, HMDC and Sharon Harris, LVN, CHPLN, EOLD https://a.co/d/aIm9QtL

* Identity of patients and details surrounding care is fictionalized to conceal protected health information.

Website info https://mourningdovemedical.com

VIDEO podcast https://youtu.be/bY0QAGa1jHs?si=VZGCrddXHX_0f3Bt #hapc #EducateAndEmpower #PeaceOfMind #TheRealDealAboutHospice #HeartMonth #OurHearts #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM2024 #February #CardioTwitter #AdvanceCarePlanning #WearRedDay #NationOfLifesavers #HealthyHabits