The Surgical Palliative Care Podcast
As one of just 80 U.S. surgeons currently board-certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Dr. Red created The Surgical Palliative Care Podcast to showcase the founders and the leaders of the surgical palliative care movement. Tune in to hear more about the rich history of the profession, to stay up to date on the latest research and to learn how to integrate palliative care into your practice. Hosted by Dr. Red and a variety of co-hosts, The Surgical Palliative Care Podcast aims to educate, foster community and provide mentorship to all those interested in making certain that all surgical and trauma patients receive the excellent treatment they deserve.
Episode 6: COVID-19 and the Role of Surgical Palliative Care
Recorded on March 20, 2020. Join host Dr. Red Hoffman, cohost Dr. Mac Cook and guest Dr. Katie O'Connell (acute care surgeon and director of surgical palliative care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA) as they discuss the Covid-19 pandemic and the various roles that surgical palliative care may play throughout this public health crisis. They compare notes on the responses of their various institutions and commiserate about the shared sense of anxiety, boredom and identity distress that many surgeons throughout the country are currently feeling. They also talk about the importance of making sure that all of patients have updated advance directives, the use of telemedicine at end of life, ethical dilemmas in the time of resource scarcity and various resources (listed below) that may help all surgeons deliver primary palliative care to our patients. Thanks to Mac and Katie for a thoughtful, honest discussion and for the reminder that we all have an important role to play during this difficult time.
Resources discussed in this episode:
- Elective Surgery Acuity Scale by Dr. Sameer Siddiiqui at St. Louis University
- Covid-Ready Communication Skills published by Vital Talk
- Covid-19 Response Resources provided by Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). Beyond communication tips, CAPC is providing, free of charge, symptom management protocols so that all surgeons are armed with the tools needed to provide excellent primary palliative care to our patients.
- Ventilator Allocation Guidelines provided by NY State Task Force on Life and Law and NY State Department of Health. These guidelines provide an excellent introduction to the ethical considerations necessary when resources are limited.
- Rationing Life Saving Treatments in the Setting of COVID Pandemic: A Podcast with Doug White and James Frank by GeriPal Podcast. This discussion of public health ethics manages to be both very nuanced and very understandable. Well worth a listen.
To learn more about Dr. Mackenzie Cook:
To learn more about Dr. Katie O’Connell:
To learn more about the Surgical Palliative Care community:
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