“Every time I see the glass heart, I’m reminded that he is comfortable now and that he was ready to go after all the work you did together.”
In the absence of advance care planning, family members, caregivers and physicians can sometimes only guess what a loved one prefers as they near the end of life. Those final weeks that should be cherished can be overshadowed by uncertainty, paralyzing decisions and overly aggressive care.
The consequences reverberate within families, care teams and health plans, at great emotional and financial costs.
Vital Decisions, the advanced illness solution of Evolent, partners with health plans to support their members through telehealth and web-based programs. We help members and their families clarify decision making, communicate and document their preferences to ensure the member’s care experience matches what is most important to them now and in the future. We also work closely with health plans to refer individuals to palliative care, hospice and other available services. In doing so, all those involved in the member’s care benefit.
When members enter our advance care planning program, they are paired with a dedicated master’s level clinician. These specialists bring their sense of compassion and expertise in navigating nuanced discussions about end of life to arrive at a care plan that reflects the members’ values and preferences. Towards the end of the program, specialists often send members handwritten notes and a small glass heart. This token of encouragement signifies strength and courage and serves as a reminder that they are not alone in this season of life. This small gesture has a profound impact for specialists and members alike.
“One instance left an imprint on my heart, and as a result I will always remember this client.”
Dr. Connie Ducaine is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions at Vital Decisions and started her career with the organization 11 years ago working directly with health plan members who were approaching end of life. Through her clinical work, Dr. Ducaine has witnessed the benefits of advance care planning and patient engagement. As a licensed professional counselor, Dr. Ducaine continues to support individuals who are coping with various mental health issues. Dr. Ducaine is recognized as a visionary leader and trusted advisor with long-term executive relationships focused on providing support and programming for counselor educators and supervisors in the state.