Kevin Haselhorst, MD

Emergency Physician and Expert On Advanced Care Planning

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
    Follow Dr. H on FacebookTwitterLinkedinYouTubeSubscribe to TDr. H's Blog
  • Publications
  • Speaking
  • Media Buzz
  • Blog
  • Palliative Care

Zero Tolerance for Family Separation

Zero Tolerance for Family Separation

Josh was carrying his 78-year-old mother, Amelia, from her wheelchair to a stretcher when the emergency physician walked in.  Seven years ago, Amelia had a stroke that paralyzed her right side. Her husband had been her primary caregiver until he died of a heart attack four days ago. Amelia was trying to do for herself despite Josh’s best intention to keep … [Read more...]

Sex, Drugs and PALLIATIVE CARE 2.0: The Next REVOLUTION for Baby Boomers

Sex, Drugs and PALLIATIVE CARE 2.0:  The Next REVOLUTION for Baby Boomers

  Cue the Beatles . . . You say you want a revolution: Baby Boomers were born to start revolutions. They enacted the greatest change in history during the 1960’s and never stopped. “Flower Power: gave them the freedom to love, not hate. Now we can not only love the one we’re with – we can marry them. Legalized marijuana is all but … [Read more...]

Sophie’s Choice: A Family Caregiver’s Charge to be Hopeful or Fearless

Sophie’s Choice: A Family Caregiver’s Charge to be Hopeful or Fearless

Like a hot potato being tossed from one player to the next, Leonard went from his primary doctor to an ENT specialist and finally to the emergency department due to a tumor obstructing his airway. Sophie, his daughter, stated, ”He needs one of those tubes in his neck that will allow him to breathe.” At 93, the emergency doctor took offense at the idea of … [Read more...]

How to Apply “Final Wishes” to Everyday Medical Decisions

How to Apply “Final Wishes” to Everyday Medical Decisions

Emergency doctors normally don’t consider final wishes when it comes to treating a 47-year-old woman. Tina had metastatic kidney cancer that spread to her liver and lungs.  With her being someone’s wife, mother, sister and friend, there’s an emotional charge to keep this young woman alive. Tina deserved the best treatment available. Like most, this goal … [Read more...]

The Unsure Church Nurse

The Unsure Church Nurse

At 83, Dorothy was a good person – but a lousy patient. Frustrated with lower abdominal pain, she refused to take pain medication while in the emergency department. She finally gave in but developed heartburn from the morphine. Once her stomach settled, the doctor relayed the bad news, “Dorothy, you have uterine cancer that’s pushing on your bladder and … [Read more...]

Barbara Bush: The “Enforcer” of Dying with Dignity

Barbara Bush: The “Enforcer” of Dying with Dignity

Barbara Bush: The “Enforcer” of Dying with Dignity Last week Americans celebrated the life and death of former first lady, Barbara Bush. As the matriarch of the Bush family dynasty, she was fondly referred to as the “enforcer.” This term of endearment gained her respect and served others in knowing what she demanded. “What Barbara says, goes” is the … [Read more...]

Low Vision/High Tech: Gadgets for the Visually Impaired

Low Vision/High Tech: Gadgets for the Visually Impaired

Assistive technology can be a boon if you’re visually impaired and you may be surprised to know there are many high-tech devices out there that can help you with low vision. Here is a rundown on some of the most cutting-edge tech devices.

Shoes That Guide Your Feet Imagine you’re walking down the street listening to … [Read more...]

A New Directive for National Healthcare Decisions Day

A New Directive for National Healthcare Decisions Day

  Other than taxes, the only other certainty in life is death. People don’t like to pay taxes or think about dying. But on April 16th, National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) reminds people to complete their advance directives. Like a passport, an advance directive permits an individual to proceed from one world to another with an easy stamp of … [Read more...]

When the Choice to Die is Not an Option

When the Choice to Die is Not an Option

At 69, Bob appeared to be a broken man. He left the hospital the day before and returned to the emergency department (ED) because he wasn’t “acting right.” Bob became upset when a second injection to his abdomen burned and family members were angry that the discharge instructions did not explain this. After four years of receiving treatment for metastatic … [Read more...]

Don’t Let Doctors Treat Terminally-ill Patients

Don’t Let Doctors Treat Terminally-ill Patients

Anna knew she needed to stop drinking or suffer the consequences of liver failure. At 53, Anna came to the emergency department having a decreased level of consciousness, low blood pressure and bleeding from her nose and mouth. Her abdomen was the size of a basketball due to ascites – fluid in the abdominal cavity. Anna’s family members were not aware of her … [Read more...]

Should Doctors Be Required to Inform Patients of Their Palliative Care Rights?

Should Doctors Be Required to Inform Patients of Their Palliative Care Rights?

I overheard a colleague admit an 84-year-old woman to the hospital from the emergency department for a sizable mass in her uterus – no doubt, cancerous. I pictured a frail woman who’d been suffering for a while and was afraid to tell anyone about it, fearing the worst.  Like most, she preferred to ignore it rather than have others tell her what to do. Having … [Read more...]

Palliative Care: How patients can “live a little” with chronic illness

Palliative Care: How patients can “live a little” with chronic illness

“Driving Miss Norma” became a Facebook sensation two years ago after she was diagnosed with uterine cancer and told her doctor, “I’m hitting the road.” Accompanied by her son, daughter-in-law and their dog, Ringo, Norma took off across the U.S. and posted stunning photos of herself enjoying life to the fullest. She’s become the poster child for how people … [Read more...]

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 11
  • Next Page »

Click to Purchase & Learn More

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Speaking

Contact Dr. H

Graceful Departures LLC
Phone: (480) 907-6027
7349 N Via Paeso del Sur Suite 515-257
Scottsdale AZ, 85258-3749
DrH@KevinHaselhorst.com

Connect With Dr. H

Connect with Dr. Kevin Haselhorst
Follow Dr. H on Facebook Twitter Linkedin YouTube Subscribe to TDr. H's Blog
© 2021 Copyright Graceful Departures LLC · Graceful Departures™ is a trademark of Graceful Departures LLC