I earned my speaking chops in a previous life: as an on-camera reporter. My ‘beat’ was vastly removed from Health, but nonetheless held me in good stead when making presentations. .
Stanford Medicine X | Change
Dr Larry Chu, the mastermind behind the California conference that brings patients and technologists together, invited me to speak on my favourite topic: end of life planning. It’s a cheeky title, for sure, Dying Can Be Fun, but it’s all about the small stuff that makes a big difference in lifting our spirit.
Health Literacy and End of Life Planning
I’ve been invited to several conferences on health literacy, but this one – hosted by the Institute for Health Advancement, is one of my favourites – specially as they liked my spooky power point design. The purpose of this presentation was to raise awarenes of the the words and jargon used in that time of life called, the end. Whether it’s interpretation of ‘hope’ or cringing at the word, ‘withdraw’ or understanding that DNR – Do Not Revive – isn’t code for ‘Do Not Treat’
Shared Decision Making
Who you you share your decision-making with? For me, my family – husband and daughters – along with specific close friends. This doesn’t even include the Health Care Professionals who’ve put me in a position of making a decision. Since my interest in end of life decisions, it’s a combination of health care specialists and my circle that helps in the ‘sharing’.
