Hospital, Hospice host panel on advance care

Experts from Sonoma Valley Hospital’s Palliative Care program and Hospice by the Bay will discuss advanced care planning in a November 13 panel discussion at Vintage House The event is titled “Planning Ahead – Making Your Health Care Wishes Known,” and is open to the community at no charge.

The session, offered at 1:30 p.m. and again at 7 p.m., will include discussion of the newest version of the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST), a form that gives seriously-ill and medically frail patients more control over their end-of-life care, including medical treatment, extraordinary measures (such as a ventilator or feeding tube) and CPR. Signed by both doctor and patient, POLST can prevent unwanted or ineffective treatments, reduce patient and family suffering, and ensure that a patient’s wishes are honored.

Speakers will include Robert Cohen, MD, SVH chief medical officer; Brian Sebastian, MD, Sonoma primary care physician and member of the Hospital’s medical staff; Elissa DeWolfe, APN, SVH Palliative Care Advanced Practice Nurse; and Teresa Tooker, Provider Relations Liaison with Hospice by the Bay.

The session will last about 90 minutes. Refreshments will be served. To reserve a space or for more information, call 707.935.5081, or email Elissa DeWolfe at [email protected]. Vintage House is located at 264 1st St East in Sonoma.