End-of-life (EOL) care is a global problem affecting 85% of the population. 56 million deaths occur worldwide each year. In the United States of America, the EOL care cost is about 10-12% of all healthcare spending. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), a surprising number of patients with life-threatening and chronic illnesses receive curative treatment in the last week of their lives. Being in touch with our mortality helps us to prepare for EOL. Evaluating end of life programs that foster provider’s education is essential in improving patient quality of life during dying and bridging patient-provider’s relationship. Each patient’s journey at EOL is unique. In the United States, 63% of Americans die in the hospitals. 80% of Americans prefer to die at home. Initiating a program that effectively addresses EOL discussion and equip providers with the knowledge and skills to communicate with patients during EOL can significantly improve patient quality of life during dying.
