“There’s nothing more we can do.” These words are often spoken by a physician just before transitioning a patient to hospice and palliative care and are regrettably uttered only days, if not hours, before the person dies. These words leave no room for hope; they make a transition to comfort care a much-feared and often avoided final destination. Yet here’s the reality: More can always be done. More important, patients know exactly the “more” that they want. The real question is: Why don’t we ask? “If I had a magic wand, what is it you would wish for today?” This is a question I ask of my patients receiving hospice … Continue reading Dawn M. Gross