WSRE Press Room

WSRE To Air “Inside Healthcare: End-of-Life Decisions”

Watch WSRE on Tuesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. for “Inside Healthcare: End-of-Life Decisions”, the final program in the series of “Inside Healthcare” public town hall meetings taped at WSRE’s Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio. The show will also air Friday, June 25 at 9:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 27 at 2 p.m.

When it comes to discussing end-of-life decisions, most people are confused, unprepared, and frightened. Technological and biomedical advancements have dramatically improved the potential of modern medicine to prolong the life of a patient; however, some of the largest medical expenditures are spent on people during the last six months of their lives. Intensive care accounts for 30 to 40 percent of hospital spending, with the majority of care given to elderly patients who have chronic conditions.

Treatment in this expensive intensive care setting contributes to the overall rise in health care costs, and the question remains: how much of the hospitalization and doctor visits resulted in better care or better quality of life? Who can and should be empowered to make end-of-life decisions and which quality-of-life factors should be considered in the process? An expert panel of guests will explore the issues surrounding end-of-life decisions and services available in our area.

During the program, Inside Healthcare will visit the Adult Day Health Care Center in Pensacola - the only licensed center of its kind in the Florida Panhandle. A service of the Council on Aging of West Florida, the center provides a protective, stimulating environment for adults with cognitive and physical problems while also providing a much needed respite for the people taking care of these older adults.

Inside Healthcare will also visit two Pensacola-area inpatient facilities operated by Covenant Hospice - the Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Inpatient Residence and the Covenant Hospice Inpatient and Palliative Care Center at West Florida Hospital. When a life-limiting illness is no longer manageable at home, inpatient facilities like these can provide comfort and support to patients and loved ones.

The program’s panel of experts includes:
Angela Bottesini, R.N., C.H.P.N., Director, Inpatient Facilities, Covenant Hospice
Erin Bowers, R.N., M.P.A., C.H.P.N., Palliative Care Manager, Sacred Heart Hospital
Donna Jacobi, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor, FSU College of Medicine
Dale Knee, Ph.D., President & CEO, Covenant Hospice
Rev. Jim Palmer, Director, Pastoral Services, Baptist Hospital
Jason Waddell, Attorney at Law, Waddell, Waddell & Breazeale, P.A.

The “Inside Healthcare” project, funded by a grant from the Kugelman Foundation, features multiple components — free, open to the public town hall meetings giving citizens the opportunity to ask questions and weigh in on issues affecting them; a TV series produced from the town hall meetings; and a comprehensive website with links to local and national resources. “Health care is a major concern for the people of our area,” states WSRE General Manager Sandy Cesaretti Ray. “WSRE’s Community Health Initiative identified and addressed those critical issues through our town hall meetings to help the people of the Gulf Coast be better equipped with the knowledge and tools to manage their own health. WSRE is pleased to serve as the conduit for this kind of vital information and resources through the power of television.