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Adaji E, Johnson M, George MC, Nortjé N. Enhancing Oncologists' Comfort with Serious Illness Conversations: The Impact of Serious Illness Conversation Guide (SICG) Training. J Cancer Educ 2024:10.1007/s13187-024-02441-w. [PMID: 38656462 DOI: 10.1007/s13187-024-02441-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Providers oftentimes need to have difficult conversations with patients facing a poor prognosis. Research indicates that providers generally feel ill prepared for these conversations and that bad conversations may lead to more anxiety for patients. Communication skills development training programs have shown improvement in providers' skills. Our cancer center embarked on skills development training to help providers improve their skills and comfort in having serious illness conversations. During our phased approach, about 500 physicians and advanced practice providers in the Division of Oncology were trained for over a year. Their level of comfort with serious illness conversations was measured before and after the training by using both quantitative and qualitative methods. We found that mean and median comfort scores increased from pre-training to post-training. The findings suggest that the improved comfort and confidence observed among providers who undergo communications skills training can lead to better provider-patient communication, more patient-centered care, and improved patient satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Adaji
- Office of Patient Experience, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - M Johnson
- Office of Patient Experience, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M C George
- Department of Hospital Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - N Nortjé
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
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Patel VR, Cwalina TB, Nortjé N, Mullangi S, Parikh RB, Shih YCT, Gupta A, Hussaini SMQ. Incorporating Cost Measures Into the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System: Implications for Oncologists. JCO Oncol Pract 2023:OP2200858. [PMID: 37094233 DOI: 10.1200/op.22.00858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) is currently the only federally mandated value-based payment model for oncologists. The weight of cost measures in MIPS has increased from 0% in 2017 to 30% in 2022. Given that cost measures are specialty-agnostic, specialties with greater costs of care such as oncology may be unfairly affected. We investigated the implications of incorporating cost measures into MIPS on physician reimbursements for oncologists and other physicians. METHODS We evaluated physicians scored on cost and quality in the 2018 MIPS using the Doctors and Clinicians database. We used multivariable Tobit regression to identify physician-level factors associated with cost and quality scores. We simulated composite MIPS scores and payment adjustments by applying the 2022 cost-quality weights to the 2018 category scores and compared changes across specialties. RESULTS Of 168,098 identified MIPS-participating physicians, 5,942 (3.5%) were oncologists. Oncologists had the lowest cost scores compared with other specialties (adjusted mean score, 58.4 for oncologists v 71.0 for nononcologists; difference, -12.66 [95% CI, -13.34 to -11.99]), while quality scores were similar (82.9 v 84.2; difference, -1.31 [95% CI, -2.65 to 0.03]). After the 2022 cost-quality reweighting, oncologists would receive a 4.3-point (95% CI, 4.58 to 4.04) reduction in composite MIPS scores, corresponding to a four-fold increase in magnitude of physician penalties ($4,233.41 US dollars [USD] in 2018 v $18,531.06 USD in 2022) and greater reduction in exceptional payment bonuses compared with physicians in other specialties (-42.8% [95% CI, -44.1 to -41.5] for oncologists v -23.6% [95% CI, -23.8 to -23.4] for others). CONCLUSION Oncologists will likely be disproportionally penalized after the incorporation of cost measures into MIPS. Specialty-specific recalibration of cost measures is needed to ensure that policy efforts to promote value-based care do not compromise health care quality and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal R Patel
- Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | - Thomas B Cwalina
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Section of Clinical Ethics, Department of Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Samyukta Mullangi
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Ravi B Parikh
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ya-Chen Tina Shih
- Section of Cancer Economics and Policy, Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Arjun Gupta
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - S M Qasim Hussaini
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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Patel VR, Cwalina TB, Gupta A, Nortjé N, Mullangi S, Parikh RB, Shih YCT, Hussaini SMQ. Oncologist Participation and Performance in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System. Oncologist 2023; 28:e228-e232. [PMID: 36847139 PMCID: PMC10078897 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) is a value-based payment model created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to promote high-value care through performance-based adjustments of Medicare reimbursements. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the participation and performance of oncologists in the 2019 MIPS. Oncologist participation was low (86%) compared to all-specialty participation (97%). After adjusting for practice characteristics, higher MIPS scores were observed among oncologists with alternative payment models (APMs) as their filing source (mean score, 91 for APMs vs. 77.6 for individuals; difference, 13.41 [95% CI, 12.21, 14.6]), indicating the importance of greater organizational resources for participants. Lower scores were associated with greater patient complexity (mean score, 83.4 for highest quintile vs. 84.9 for lowest quintile, difference, -1.43 [95% CI, -2.48, -0.37]), suggesting the need for better risk-adjustment by CMS. Our findings may guide future efforts to improve oncologist engagement in MIPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal R Patel
- Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Thomas B Cwalina
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Arjun Gupta
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Section of Clinical Ethics, Department of Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Samyukta Mullangi
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ravi B Parikh
- Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Ya-Chen Tina Shih
- Section of Cancer Economics and Policy, Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S M Qasim Hussaini
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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4
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Looijaard RA, Nortjé N. To have done everything. Indian J Med Ethics 2023. [PMID: 36945854 DOI: 10.20529/ijme.2023.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
When a patient loses decisional capacity, the responsibility to make treatment decisions often falls on a family member who becomes the surrogate decision-maker. This case study provides an example of a situation where the medical team and the surrogate decision-maker initially disagreed on the best course of action for the patient. The ethicist was called in to lead a guided conversation to help the team and the surrogate decision-maker reach a consensus. This case illustrates the importance of allowing the surrogate decision-maker to ask clarifying questions and process their emotions before making a decision.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Section of Integrated Ethics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA; and Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, The University of the Western Cape, Belville, SOUTH AFRICA
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Patel VR, Gereta S, Blanton CJ, Chu AL, Patel AP, Mackert M, Zientek D, Nortjé N, Khurshid A, Moriates C, Wallingford G. Perceptions of Life Support and Advance Care Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Chest 2022; 161:1609-1619. [PMID: 35077706 PMCID: PMC8783527 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research Question Study Design and Methods Results Interpretation
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Nortjé N, Terrell KN. Continue with ICU care - she is a spiritual being. Indian J Med Ethics 2022; VII:138-141. [PMID: 35765261 DOI: 10.20529/ijme.2021.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This case study discusses a dispute between the healthcare team and the patient's surrogate decision maker at a cancer centre. While the healthcare team deemed further care to be futile, the patient's husband argued that they should continue to try to reverse his wife's acute decline. This case study illustrates the inertia and moral distress that can result when there are differences between patients/surrogates and the healthcare team in their goals for intensive care. The issues of moral distress and an inability to make decisions were addressed by involving an ethics consultant, and by creating institutional mechanisms to address end-of-life issues at an earlier stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Nortjé
- Section of Integrated Ethics, Department of Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA and Center for Healthcare Ethics, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, CANADA
| | - Karen N Terrell
- Section of Integrated Ethics, Department of Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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7
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Patel VR, Gereta S, Blanton CJ, Chu AL, Reddy NK, Mackert M, Nortjé N, Pignone MP. #ColonCancer: Social Media Discussions About Colorectal Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2022; 6:e2100180. [PMID: 35025670 DOI: 10.1200/cci.21.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Social media platforms such as Twitter are extensively used to communicate about cancer care, yet little is known about the role of these online platforms in promoting early detection or sharing the lived experiences of patients with CRC. This study tracked Twitter discussions about CRC and characterized participating users to better understand public communication and perceptions of CRC during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Tweets containing references to CRC were collected from January 2020 to April 2021 using Twitter's Application Programming Interface. Account metadata was used to predict user demographic information and classify users as either organizations, individuals, clinicians, or influencers. We compared the number of impressions across users and analyzed the content of tweets using natural language processing models to identify prominent topics of discussion. RESULTS There were 72,229 unique CRC-related tweets by 31,170 users. Most users were male (66%) and older than 40 years (57%). Individuals accounted for most users (44%); organizations (35%); clinicians (19%); and influencers (2%). Influencers made the most median impressions (35,853). Organizations made the most overall impressions (1,067,189,613). Tweets contained the following topics: bereavement (20%), appeals for early detection (20%), research (17%), National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (15%), screening access (14%), and risk factors (14%). CONCLUSION Discussions about CRC largely focused on bereavement and early detection. Online coverage of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and personal experiences with CRC effectively stimulated goal-oriented tweets about early detection. Our findings suggest that although Twitter is commonly used for communicating about CRC, partnering with influencers may be an effective strategy for improving communication of future public health recommendations related to CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal R Patel
- Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | - Sofia Gereta
- Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | | | - Alexander L Chu
- Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | - Neha K Reddy
- Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | - Michael Mackert
- Center for Health Communication, Moody College of Communication, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Department of Critical Care Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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Burns A, Hardy N, Nortjé N. Appreciating the Dynamicity of Values at the End of Life: A Psychological and Ethical Analysis. Narrat Inq Bioeth 2022; 12:177-181. [PMID: 36373538 DOI: 10.1353/nib.2022.0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
It can be difficult for families to accept when loved ones experience a change in saliency of values due to serious illness and inevitable death. When patients lose decision-making capacity, family members often refuse to withdraw care and insist on the continuation of non-beneficial treatment. Through a joint ethical and psychological analysis, this case study examines the narrative of a husband and wife, wed for over 50 years, and how the patient's values, his life's story, and the wife's interpretation of his preferences were reconciled to achieve a resolution that respected the patient's autonomy and previously expressed wishes.
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Jones-Bonofiglio K, Nortjé N, Webster L, Garros D. A Practical Approach to Hospital Visitation During a Pandemic: Responding With Compassion to Unjustified Restrictions. Am J Crit Care 2021; 30:302-311. [PMID: 33870412 DOI: 10.4037/ajcc2021611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence-based resources have been sought to support decision-making and strategically inform hospitals' policies, procedures, and practices. While greatly emphasizing protection, most guiding documents have neglected to support and protect the psychosocial needs of frontline health care workers and patients and their families during provision of palliative and end-of-life care. Consequently, the stage has been set for increased anxiety, moral distress, and moral injury and extreme moral hazard. A family-centered approach to care has been unilaterally relinquished to a secondary and nonessential role during the current crisis. This phenomenon violates a foundational public health principle, namely, to apply the least restrictive means to achieve good for the many. Instead, there has been widespread adoption of utilitarian and paternalistic approaches. In many cases the foundational principles of palliative care have also been neglected. No circumstance, even a global public health emergency, should ever cause health care providers to deny their ethical obligations and human commitment to compassion. The lack of responsive protocols for family visitation, particularly at the end of life, is an important gap in the current recommendations for pandemic triage and contingency planning. A stepwise approach to hospital visitation using a tiered, standardized process for responding to emerging clinical circumstances and individual patients' needs should be considered, following the principle of proportionality. A contingency plan, based on epidemiological data, is the best strategy to refocus health care ethics in practice now and for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio
- Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio is an assistant professor, School of Nursing, and director of the Centre for Health Care Ethics, Lakehead University, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Nico Nortjé is an assistant professor, critical care and respiratory care, and a clinical ethicist, Section of Integrated Ethics in Cancer Care, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; a research affiliate, Centre for Health Care Ethics, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; and professor extraordinaire, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Laura Webster
- Laura Webster is director of the bioethics program, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, and affiliate faculty, Department of Bioethics and Humanities, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Daniel Garros
- Daniel Garros is a clinical professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, and a member of the Ethics Committee and senior attending physician in the pediatric intensive care unit, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Walther-Broussard L, Meyer T, Nortjé N. When Hanging on at All Costs is the Only Option. bioethics 2021. [DOI: 10.7202/1077641ar] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Having hope that a terminally ill patient may recover is not an unfamiliar sight in intensive care units across the globe. However, cultural heritage may make it even tougher. This fictional case study, which is a collection of years of experience, addresses decision-making within the Chinese Immigrant culture and focusses on how this may influence the care team. A new initiative, the Goals of Care (GOC) team, is also described.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiffany Meyer
- Department of Social Work, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Department of Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
- Department of Dietetics, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Centre for Health Care Ethics, Thunder Bay, Canada
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Abstract
Advance care planning (ACP) has been identified as a fundamental part of every patient's total health care plan and is actively supported by a number of health care organizations. Despite these endorsements, however, having advance care planning conversations has not come easily for physicians. Training future physicians should include practical ways to address this issue. Fifty physicians at an oncology hospital, who were identified as having the most ACP conversations, were approached. Twenty-six percent participated in a survey which was sent out electronically via Qualitrics. All answers were recorded online and responses were collected and analyzed according to thematic analysis methodology. Major themes were noted and summarized for each of the survey's 10 questions, resulting in how the physicians can successfully plan for and initiate advance care planning conversations with their patients and families. Themes touched upon self-awareness, one's outlook on the value of life, and the importance of death as part of the care continuum. A physician's own perception of the value of ACP conversations greatly influences them having those conversations. Furthermore, it is key that the physician understands and be aware of the patient's perspective regarding their cancer and how it impacts them. This dynamic will then allow the physician to better align their plan of care with the treatment goals and expectations of the patient. Future training programs should incorporate these suggestions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Nortjé
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Karen Stepan
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Nortjé N, Jones-Bonofiglio K, Sotomayor CR. Exploring values among three cultures from a global bioethics perspective. Glob Bioeth 2021; 32:1-14. [PMID: 33658749 PMCID: PMC7872551 DOI: 10.1080/11287462.2021.1879462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights refers to the importance of cultural diversity and pluralism in ethical discourse and care of humanity. The aim of this meta-narrative review is to identify indigenous ethical values pertaining to the Ojibway (Canada), Xhosa (South Africa), and Mayan (Mexico and Central American) cultures from peer-reviewed sources and cultural review, and to ascertain if there are shared commonalities. Three main themes were identified, namely illness, healing, and health care choices. Illness was described with a more complex and dynamic picture than from the western view, as illness is not considered to be one dimensional. Healing needs to take place on various levels in order to restore a state of equilibrium between the different spheres. Health care choices were also considered from a multi-level perspective. In all three of the indigenous cultures explored, good decision-making is seen to have occurred when choices are informed by commitments to one's moral and ethical responsibilities towards the community, nature, and the spirit world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Nortjé
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- The University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
- Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics, Thunder Bay, Canada
| | - Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio
- Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics, Thunder Bay, Canada
- Associated Medical Services (AMS Healthcare) Phoenix Fellow, Toronto, Canada
| | - Claudia R. Sotomayor
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Research Scholar of UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, Rome, Italy
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Meyer T, Walther-Broussard L, Nortjé N. It Takes Time to Let Go. Narrat Inq Bioeth 2021; 11:305-309. [PMID: 35370180 DOI: 10.1353/nib.2021.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Futile or nonbeneficial treatment is often a source of contention between care teams and family members of ICU patients. This narrative describes such a case at a cancer center. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the psychosocial team had to act as a bridge between a patient's surrogate decision maker and the care team. In light of COVID-19 visitor restrictions, the psychosocial team, the surrogate/family, and the care team had to respectfully work towards what was best for the patient.
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Abstract
Although current literature about the “cure versus care” issue tends to promote a patient-centered approach, the disease-centered approach remains the prevailing model in practice. The perceived dichotomy between the two approaches has created a barrier that could make it difficult for medical students and physicians to integrate psychosocial aspects of patient care into the prevailing disease-based model. This article examines the influence of the formal and hidden curricula on the perception of these two approaches and finds that the hidden curriculum perpetuates the notion that “cure” and “care” based approaches are dichotomous despite significant changes in formal curricula that promote a more integrated approach. The authors argue that it is detrimental for clinicians to view the two approaches as oppositional rather than complementary and attempt to give recommendations on how the influence of the hidden curriculum can be reduced to get a both-cure-and-care-approach, rather than an either-cure-or-care-approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Department of Critical Care, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa. .,Centre for Health Care Ethics, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
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15
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Jones-Bonofiglio K, Nortjé N. A policy and decision-making framework for South African doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic. S Afr Med J 2020; 110:613-616. [PMID: 32880333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Faced with a pandemic, doctors around the world are forced to make difficult ethical decisions about clinical, economic and politically charged issues in medicine and healthcare, with little time or resources for support. A decision-making framework is suggested to guide policy and clinical practice to support the needs of healthcare workers, help to allocate scarce resources equitably and promote communication among stakeholders, while drawing on South African doctors' knowledge, culture and experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Jones-Bonofiglio
- Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; Bioethics Unit, International Network of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (Haifa).
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Nortjé N. Speaking for Our Father. Narrat Inq Bioeth 2020; 9:173-177. [PMID: 31447455 DOI: 10.1353/nib.2019.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
A living will is a document in which an individual can communicate his or her health care choices to loved ones in the event that he or she is unable to do so directly. Many surrogate decision-makers use living wills as guides; however, the existence of such documents does not entirely relieve them of their burden. Surrogate decision-makers often need to consider the impact of the personal and family burdens entailed by their decisions, and the stress accompanying these burdens regularly creates high levels of anxiety and depression. This stress can be exacerbated when two surrogate decision-makers are at loggerheads as to the best way forward. This case study illustrates the effects of stress accompanying disagreement among surrogate decision-makers-here, the patient's adult sons-and demonstrates that a process of listening can help the bioethicist identify the values that are important to the patient and, consequently, to the surrogate as well, and use these values to help address the issue.
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Stepan K, Bashoura L, George M, Griffith W, Meyer M, Nortjé N, Price K, Zhukovsky DS, Rodriguez MA. Building an Infrastructure and Standard Methodology for Actively Engaging Patients in Advance Care Planning. J Oncol Pract 2019; 15:e1085-e1091. [PMID: 31596647 PMCID: PMC7098839 DOI: 10.1200/jop.18.00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE With little to no infrastructure or standardized methodology in place to actively engage patients in advance care planning (ACP), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center set out to identify needed resources, develop an intervention to improve ACP, and evaluate the intervention's effects. METHODS With the support of executive leadership, a multidisciplinary workgroup enlisted the support of ACP champions, performed a root-cause analysis, developed a detailed ACP process flow by provider role, developed patient and family education resources, and developed faculty and staff training materials. The workgroup also implemented two Plan-Do-Study-Act intervention cycles, which identified difficulty using the ACP note function in our electronic health record (EHR) as a barrier to ACP adoption. By educating patients, families, and providers and improving the EHR's functionality, the workgroup aimed to increase the percentage of ambulatory patients with a diagnosis of advanced or metastatic cancer who had a documented ACP conversation with a provider by their third office visit. Our goal was to improve this percentage from 20% at baseline to 50% after the intervention. Data were obtained from our institution's EHRs. RESULTS The percentage of patients who had documented ACP conversations increased from 20% at baseline to 34% at the end of fiscal year 2017 and 54% at the end of fiscal year 2018. CONCLUSION Owing to the dedicated efforts of many individuals across the institution, the postintervention goal was surpassed. Additional efforts to facilitate ACP conversations are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Stepan
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Lara Bashoura
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Marina George
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Wendy Griffith
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Margaret Meyer
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Nico Nortjé
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Kristen Price
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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Cunningham TV, Chatburn A, Coleman C, DeRenzo EG, Furfari K, Frye J, Glover AC, Kenney M, Nortjé N, Malek J, Repenshek M, Sheppard F, Crites JS. Comprehensive Quality Assessment in Clinical Ethics. The Journal of Clinical Ethics 2019. [DOI: 10.1086/jce2019303284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Nortjé N. Helping Surrogate Decision-Makers Through Difficult Conversations. bioethics 2019. [DOI: 10.7202/1058280ar] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Difficult conversations in the ICU are often seen as ones of getting a surrogate decision-maker to make an end-of-life decision. However, allowing the surrogate decision-maker to become a narrator can alleviate the daunting task lying ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Nortjé
- Department of Critical Care, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
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Choudhury D, Nortjé N. Respecting Cultural Differences in Goals of Care Conversations. bioethics 2019. [DOI: 10.7202/1065694ar] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Goals of care conversations are often tough when patients face a poor prognosis, yet when patients are from a different culture it may be even more difficult. However, seeing cultural values as complementing rather than opposing could be beneficial to the care of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Department of Critical Care, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Abstract
A narrative description of personal moral challenges of a nurse serving diverse communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Nortjé
- Department of Critical Care, Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
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Cunningham TV, Chatburn A, Coleman C, DeRenzo EG, Furfari K, Frye J, Glover AC, Kenney M, Nortjé N, Malek J, Repenshek M, Sheppard F, Crites JS. Comprehensive Quality Assessment in Clinical Ethics. J Clin Ethics 2019; 30:284-296. [PMID: 31573973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Scholars and professional organizations in bioethics describe various approaches to "quality assessment" in clinical ethics. Although much of this work represents significant contributions to the literature, it is not clear that there is a robust and shared understanding of what constitutes "quality" in clinical ethics, what activities should be measured when tracking clinical ethics work, and what metrics should be used when measuring those activities. Further, even the most robust quality assessment efforts to date are idiosyncratic, in that they represent evaluation of single activities or domains of clinical ethics activities, or a range of activities at a single hospital or healthcare system. Countering this trend, iin this article we propose a framework for moving beyond our current ways of understanding clinical ethics quality, toward comprehensive quality assessment. We first describe a way to conceptualize quality assessment as a process of measuring disparate, isolated work activities; then, we describe quality assessment in terms of tracking interconnected work activities holistically, across different levels of assessment. We conclude by inviting future efforts in quality improvement to adopt a comprehensive approach to quality assessment into their improvement practices, and offer recommendations for how the field might move in this direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas V Cunningham
- Director of Bioethics in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Bioethics Program, in Los Angeles USA. thomas.v.cunningham @kp.org
| | - Andrea Chatburn
- Regional Director for Ethics in the Theology and Ethics Department, Providence St. Joseph Health, in Spokane, Washington USA
| | - Cynthia Coleman
- Senior Clinical Ethicist at the John J. Lynch, MD Center for Ethics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. USA
| | - Evan G DeRenzo
- Assistant Director of the John J. Lynch, MD Center for Ethics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. USA.
| | - Kristin Furfari
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado USA
| | - John Frye
- Senior Clinical Ethics Fellow at the Health Ethics Center, University of California-Los Angeles, in Los Angeles, California USA
| | - Avery C Glover
- MD-MBA Candidate at Tufts University School of Medicine and Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management in Boston, Massachusetts USA
| | - Matthew Kenney
- Vice President, Ethics Integration and Education at Ascension in St. Louis, Missouri USA.
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Assistant Professor in the Department of Critical Care at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas USA.
| | - Janet Malek
- Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas USA.
| | - Mark Repenshek
- Vice President, Ethics and Church Relations at Ascension in St. Louis, Missouri USA. mark.repenshek@ ascension.org
| | - Flora Sheppard
- JD-MA in Bioethics and Science Policy Student at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina USA.
| | - Joshua S Crites
- Co-Director of the Cleveland Fellowship in Advanced Bioethics and a Regional Bioethicist in the Center for Bioethics ath the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio USA.
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Fouché P, Burnell B, Van Niekerk R, Nortjé N. The faith development of the antiapartheid theologian Beyers Naudé: A psychobiography. Spirituality in Clinical Practice 2016. [DOI: 10.1037/scp0000105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Nortjé N, Hoffmann W. Seven year overview (2007–2013) of ethical transgressions by registered healthcare professionals in South Africa. Health SA 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hsag.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Hoffmann WA, Nortjé N. Patterns of unprofessional conduct by medical practitioners in South Africa (2007–2013) 1. S Afr Fam Pract (2004) 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2016.1186366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Hoffmann WA, Nortjé N. Patterns of unprofessional conduct by medical practitioners in South Africa (2007–2013). S Afr Fam Pract (2004) 2016. [DOI: 10.4102/safp.v58i3.5668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A role of ethics in the medical context is to protect the interests, freedoms and well-being of patients. A critical analysis of unprofessional conduct by medical practitioners registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) requires a better understanding of the specific ethics misconduct trends.To investigate the objectives the case content and sanctions of all guilty decisions related to unprofessional conduct against HPCSA-registered medical practitioners in the period 2007 to 2013 were analysed. A mixed methods approach was followed. The quantitative component focused on annual frequency data regarding the number of decisions taken against practitioners, number of practitioners, number of specific sanctions and categories. Relatively few medical practitioners (between 0.11% and 0.24%) are annually found guilty of unprofessional conduct. The annual average number of guilty decisions per guilty medical practitioner ranged between 1.29 and 2.58. The three most frequent sanctions imposed were fines between ZAR10 000 and ZAR15 000 (28.29%), fines between ZAR1 000 and ZAR8 000 (23.47%) and suspended suspensions between 1 month and 1 year (17.37%). The majority of the unprofessional conduct involved fraudulent behaviour (48.4%), followed by negligence or incompetence in evaluating, treating or caring for patients (29%).Unethical behaviour by medical practitioners in South Africa occurs relatively infrequently.
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Hoffmann WA, Nortjé N. Ethical misconduct by registered physiotherapists in South Africa (2007-2013): A mixed methods approach. S Afr J Physiother 2015; 71:248. [PMID: 30135876 PMCID: PMC6093113 DOI: 10.4102/sajp.v71i1.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of ethics in a medical context is to protect the interests of patients. Thus, it is critically important to understand the guilty verdicts related to professional standard breaches and ethics misconduct of physiotherapists. AIM To analyse the case content and penalties of all guilty verdicts related to ethics misconduct against registered physiotherapists in South Africa. METHODS A mixed methods approach was followed consisting of epidemiological data analysis and qualitative content analysis. The data documents were formal annual lists (2007-2013) of guilty verdicts related to ethical misconduct. Quantitative data analysis focused on annual frequencies of guilty verdicts, transgression categories and the imposed penalties. Qualitative data analysis focused on content analysis of the case content for each guilty verdict. RESULTS Relatively few physiotherapists (0.05%) are annually found guilty of ethical misconduct. The two most frequent penalties were fines of R5000.00 and fines of R8000.00 - R10 000.00. The majority of transgressions involved fraudulent conduct (70.3%), followed by performance of procedures without patient consent (10.8%). Fraudulent conduct involved issuing misleading, inaccurate or false medical statements, and false or inaccurate medical aid scheme claims. CONCLUSION Unethical conduct by physiotherapists in South Africa occurs rarely. The majority of penalties imposed on sanctioned physiotherapists were monetary penalties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem A. Hoffmann
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
| | - Nico Nortjé
- Department of Dietetics, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
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Nortjé N, Hoffmann WA. Professional consequence for dentists involved in unethical decision-making in South Africa. J Forensic Odontostomatol 2014; 32 Suppl 1:22-29. [PMID: 25557412 PMCID: PMC5734817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The previously gullible and apathetic South African public, generally speaking, is lately becoming increasingly rights-based sophisticated. Patients are no longer accepting inferior quality work and have become more knowledgeable especially regarding the expected skills and professional conduct of dentists. The present study examined archival material as published between 2007 and 2013 of penalties against ethical misconduct. It was found that the majority of ethical transgressions took place in urban settings and the most predominant transgression was charging for services not performed and submitting these claims to medical aids as well as performing sub-optimal interventions. Legally a practitioner who performs such acts may be held liable for the damage or injury suffered by the patient as a consequence of these acts, on the basis of negligence. Penalties imposed by the Health Professions Council of South Africa vary between 5,000 Rand and 15,000 Rand, as well as suspensions of between 9 to 12 months. It is doubtful that transgressors would change their behaviour in the light of the present Continuous Professional Development programmes where attendance is really the only prerequisite and not moral reflection. This study recommends that the Health Professions Council of South Africa need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of their ethical training programmes and adapt the model to incorporate more inclusive learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Nortjé
- University of the Western Cape (Cape Town, South Africa)
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Esterhuyse KGF, Nortjé N, Pienaar A, Beukes RBI. Sense of humour and adolescents' cognitive flexibility. S Afr Fam Pract (2004) 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/20786204.2013.10874309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- KGF Esterhuyse
- Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
| | - N Nortjé
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
| | - A Pienaar
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
| | - RBI Beukes
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
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Fouché P, Nortjé N, Phillips K, Stroud L. Psychofortology of Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment. Journal of Psychology in Africa 2011. [DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2011.10820495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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