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Life Support Issues/Expert Profile
Expertise
My expertise is in end of life care for adults. Identifying when someone is approaching the end of their life. Benefits and burdens of end of life treatments. Managing pain and other symptoms. Providing care for dying patients at home. Advocating for someone who is dying in a hospital or nursing home.
Experience in the area
More than 28 years of experience in hospice care. Currently consulting with hospices to promote access for patients to receive hospice care earlier in the course of their illness. Betsy provides training for hospice marketing staff to effectively work with nursing facilities to help identify eligible patients. She writes Additional Development Request (ADR) letters to Medicare to help hospices get paid for their services and to avoid future claim denials.
Organizations
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Publications
Articles: Clinical Reviews, Advance for Nurses, Nursing Spectrum, Washington Business Woman, www.Ezine.com;www.alz-nca.com.Books: Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing (FA Davis and Company), Guide to Caregiving in the Final Months of Life (TM Brown publishers).
Education/Credentials
Bachelors of Science in Nursing, additionally trained as a Family Nurse Practitioner and certified as a hospice and palliative care nurse.
Awards and Honors
Outstanding Woman in Loudoun County (VA) by Loudoun County Commission on Women 1997 and 2002.
What do you like about this subject?
Families of dying patients need to receive unbiased evidence-based medical information in order to make good decisions. I enjoy helping them formulate the questions that will benefit their loved one and help them to feel more effective in caregiving.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject
Many people are fearful when they hear the suggestion of hospice care. They fear that if they accept hospice care, they will be deprived of future treatments that may benefit them. Some patients improve with hospice and are discharged. It makes sense, that when your pain is controlled and your emotional and spiritual distress resolved, that you could physically improve.
Average Ratings
Recent Reviews from Users
K = Knowledgeability C = Clarity of Response P = Politeness| User | Date | K | C | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| diane | 04/18/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | i would like to say there are ..... |
| Julie | 03/14/12 | 9 | 9 | 10 | Finally an answer to our question. I ..... |
| Teresa Toole | 02/27/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| Kelle | 09/24/11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so very much for your ..... |
| sharyn | 09/16/11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you, it helps knowing what we ..... |
Recent Answers from Betsy Murphy
2012-04-18 mum,stomach cancer:
Diane, I am sorry about your mother. How much time will depend on several things such as the tumor type, where the cancer has spread to etc. Some patients can die rapidly from failure of an organ or from
2012-02-27 Mom with small cell cancer diag beginning year:
Michelle, I sounds like it has been very difficult for your mother and her family. Many elderly patients fail to seek treatment when they have symptoms. Parents sometimes don't accept our suggestions
2012-01-13 End of live stages in Lymphoma:
Judy, You are correct, the situation can be confusing. There are different cell types which affects the aggressiveness of disease. The symptoms of Lymphoma depend on the locations of the tumor. Stage
2012-01-13 End of live stages in Lymphoma:
Judy, I am sorry about your mothers worsening illness. It is so good that you all had your month with her while she was well. Most patients with end stage cancer have increasing symptoms, weakness and
2011-11-07 Confused?:
Vanessa, It sounds to me like the medications he is taking may build up in his body because his liver cannot process them. His liver (and kidneys) have to work hard to clear the medications from his
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