Gundersen-sponsored book discusses end of life health care

A new book--"Having Your Own Say: Getting the Right Care When It Matters Most"--was released for national sale on Monday.  The book is sponsored in part by Gundersen Lutheran.  It includes the lessons Gundersen physicians have learned about the care patients wish to receive if they are unable to speak for themselves.

Edited by Gundersen Lutheran's Bernard Hammes, PhD, the book is a collaborative effort between Gundersen Lutheran and other healthcare groups across the country.  It includes introductions from former U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt and from U.S. Senator Mark Warner from Virginia.

In "Having Your Own Say," the authors outline effective family-centered approaches to care for those with advanced illnesses, like Alzheimer's disease, cancer or heart disease.  The book also contains personal stories from patients and family members from the Tri-State Region.

"We are fortunate that planning for advanced illness is part of the fabric of our community, but that's not the case for people in other parts of the country," said Dr. Hammes.  He concludes, "Until all healthcare systems connect with the needs of patients and their loved ones, too many Americans won't get the care they deserve when faced with the difficulties of advanced illnesses."
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To buy the book or for information, go to www.havingyourownsay.org or call (608) 775-4747.