Q & A
Search Questions & Answers
-
Q:Question: When I am Admitted as a Patient to an UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hospital, will I be Asked About Advance Directives?
A:Answer:Yes, if you are an adult or emancipated minor inpatient. When you are admitted to a nursing unit you will be asked to complete a personal health history form or your nurse will assist you. At this time you will be asked about an Advance Directives form that has a summary of UChicago Medicine AdventHealth’s policy.
If you have completed Advance Directives, please bring a copy with you to the hospital and give it to your nurse. If you would like to complete one, please let your nurse know. If you have questions after reading the instructions on the back of the Advance Directives form, you may request to speak to a chaplain, case manager or your physician.
-
Q:Question: When Should a Person Make sure that a Designated Health Care Surrogate has Been Appointed?
A:Answer:Prior to your medical procedure you should appoint a designated health care surrogate. If you already have one designated, changes in marital status or within your family may require changes to your surrogate appointment as well:
- Single
- Newly Married
- Divorced, or contemplating divorce
- Separated
- Living with a significant other
- Wanting to designate one person from the proxy category where there are several people.
-
Q:Question: Does a Living Will Mean the Person is not to be Resuscitated in the Event of a Cardiac and/or Respiratory Arrest?
A:Answer:No, but if you do not wish to be resuscitated in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest, you must discuss this with the attending physician so that a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order can be entered into your medical records. This form must be completed by you and your physician in order to be valid and take effect.
-
Q:Question: Who Can Complete an Advance Directive?
A:Answer:Any person who is 18-years of age and older, as well an emancipated minor, can have Advance Directives.
-
Q:Question: What is beating-heart coronary artery bypass surgery and how is it performed?
A:Answer:In an open-chest, beating-heart bypass procedure, surgeons make an incision through the breastbone to gain access to the heart. In many cases, surgeons do a partial sternotomy, which is a shorter incision through the breastbone than a full sternotomy. Unlike traditional bypass surgery, the heart is not stopped during a beating-heart bypass procedure. This approach uses special devices to stabilize the part of the heart the surgeon is operating on.
At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, beating-heart bypass is typically performed without the use of a heart-lung bypass machine, though it may be performed with the support of the machine in some cases.
-
Q:Question: What are the benefits of beating-heart bypass surgery?
A:Answer:Compared to traditional bypass surgery, the benefits of beating-heart bypass surgery include:
- Better preservation of heart function
- Less chance for heart rhythm, kidney or liver complications
- Quicker recovery
- Reduced hospital stay
- Reduced risk of neurological injury, including stroke and memory function damage
This approach is especially beneficial for patients who have multiple health conditions or are considered high-risk for traditional surgery.
-
Q:Question: Who is a candidate for the beating-heart surgical approach?
A:Answer:Most people who require coronary artery bypass graft surgery are candidates for the beating-heart surgical approach. Surgeons weigh several factors, such as the location of blocked arteries, a patient's history of past thoracic surgeries and the presence of co-existing diseases. Patients with very poor heart function, cases requiring re-operation involving the side of the heart and hearts that cannot tolerate manipulation may not be the right fit for this approach.
-
Q:Question: Is beating-heart bypass surgery widely available?
A:Answer:More than 95% of coronary bypass surgeries performed at our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth hospitals are done on a beating heart. Although beating-heart bypass is not an option for all patients requiring bypass surgery, our experienced surgeons are frequently able to offer it safely to many patients.
-
Q:Question: What is the difference between in-hospital and community-based palliative care?
A:Answer:The main difference between these two services is the location where care is given.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerIn-hospital palliative care, offered at our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale and La Grange hospitals, will likely include many health professionals, including:
- Case management members
- Chaplains
- ICU and therapy teams
- Nurse practitioners
These experts collaborate to address your whole health. Using a combination of pain management techniques, mental health care and spiritual support, we’ll ensure your treatment plan helps you feel like yourself again.
Community-based palliative care, offered through UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Medical Group, will likely include health professionals such as:
- Collaborating physicians
- Nurse practitioners
- Social workers
- Triage nurses
Our community-based team sees most of their patients in their own homes across the Chicagoland area. They also care for patients in hospitals, independent living, assisted living and long-term care nursing facilities.
-
Q:Question: What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice care?
A:Answer:Hospice care aims to comfort patients during their last days, while palliative care assists with everyday needs for those facing serious illnesses.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerPalliative and hospice care are often confused but aren’t the same thing. Hospice care focuses on end-of-life care, offering dignity and comfort during a loved one’s final days. In contrast, palliative care focuses on helping you live every day to its fullest during any stage of health.