Recognizing that 20% of dialysis patients die each year, coordinated end-of-life care is an essential component of quality care. There are many misconceptions about available services in addition to questions on how best to help patients express their end-of-life treatment desires, how to implement a quality end-of-life and palliative care program in dialysis units, and how to meet the educational needs of patients, families, and healthcare professionals. In December 2004, the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition (MARC) sponsored a national conference on End-of-Life and Palliative Care Issues in the Dialysis Population. Over 180 healthcare professionals attended the conference, which was sponsored in part by CMS. Keynote speaker, Ira Byock, MD, received a standing ovation for his poignant and inspirational presentation that served to open the conference and establish the relevance of palliative care to dialysis patients. Other speakers included Carla Braveman, RN, M.Ed., CHCE, Elaine Colvin, RN, MEPD, Sarah Davison, MD, MHSc, Michael Germain, MD, Richard Goldman, MD, Jean Holley, MD, and Alvin Moss, MD.
The work that began at the 2004 End-of-Life conference transitioned into a national collaborative effort resulting in the formation of the Kidney End-of-Life Coalition in 2005. The coalition consists of a number of workgroups, including a Patient Education Workgroup, aCPR Workgroup, an Advanced Care Planning Workgroup, a Hospice Workgroup, and a Physician Education Workgroup. The coalition also developed a website devoted strictly to End-of-Life Care and Advanced Care Planning.
