Palliative Care Is For Everyone with Guest, Trauma Surgeon Dr. Red Hoffman

Wait, isn't palliative care something hospice does before somebody dies? Well, yes, but that’s just part of the story: palliative care covers a whole lot of health conditions, even temporary medical health setbacks. Palliative care is like symptom relief for the emotional challenges of being alive. Doesn't that sound really interesting? Find out what it is, and why it applies to YOU in this week’s episode. 

 

Want your questions answered on the show? To submit your questions by voicemail, call us at [phone] or visit megandevine.co

 

In this episode we cover: 

• What is palliative care and why should *anyone* outside of hospice care?
• Getting your colleagues to care about the emotional pain of their patients
• Dr. Red’s love letter / shout-out to nurses 
• Why a skilled surgeon also needs to be a compassionate human being
• How to keep your personal losses out of your workplace (sort of)
• Why Megan hopes you’ll start seeing the whole world through a palliative care lens

 

Notable quotes: 

“There’s no way I could have come back to this job without being under the care of an amazing trauma informed therapist. You have to do your work or there's no way you're going to avoid bringing all of your stuff back to the job. My partner's death definitely informs who I am personally and professionally, but it cannot be all about me in the room.” - Dr. Red Hoffman on the personal/professional gray area

 

About our guest:

Dr. Red Hoffman is a board certified trauma surgeon trained in surgical care and hospice and palliative medicine. She's one of the leading voices advocating for palliative medicine across all departments and subspecialties in medicine. Follow her on Twitter @RedMDND

Questions to Carry with you:

Where are your palliative care people? Go on an expedition to find out more!

Get in touch:

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode of Here After with Megan Devine. Tune in, subscribe, leave a review, send in your questions, and share the show with everyone you know. Together, we can make things better, even when they can’t be made right. 

 

For more information, including clinical training and consulting, visit us at www.Megandevine.co

For grief support & education, follow us at @refugeingrief on IG, FB, & TW

Check out Megan’s best-selling books - It’s Okay That You're Not Okay and How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed  

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