SVH, Hospice partner for advanced care planning discussion

Experts from Sonoma Valley Hospital’s Palliative Care program and Hospice By The Bay will discuss advanced care planning in a panel discussion to be held at Vintage House senior center Thursday, Nov. 13. The event is titled “Planning Ahead – Making Your Health Care Wishes Known,” and is open to the community without cost.

It 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 be held twice on Thursday, Nov. 13 – from 1:30 to 3 p.m., and again from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. To reserve a space or for more information, call 935-5081, or email Elissa DeWolfe at edewolfe@svh.com. Vintage House is located at 264 First St. E. in Sonoma.