32. 3 Wishes Project with Dr Thanh Neville, MD MSHS
Aug 26, 2024
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Dr. Thanh Neville, the director of the 3 Wishes Program at UCLA, discusses the profound impact of granting dying patients their last wishes. He shares inspiring stories that demonstrate how small acts of kindness can transform end-of-life experiences. The conversation also covers the importance of integrating palliative care in critical settings and enhancing compassionate care amidst crisis, especially during the pandemic. Neville emphasizes the program's cost-effectiveness and the essential role of humanism in medicine, fostering emotional support for families in their toughest moments.
The Three Wishes Project enhances the end-of-life experience by personalizing care through meaningful gestures and memorable wishes for patients and families.
By demonstrating impressive sustainability and adaptability, the initiative aims to expand into underserved areas, fostering kindness in critical care across diverse healthcare settings.
Deep dives
Acts of Kindness in End-of-Life Care
The Three Wishes Project focuses on providing small acts of kindness to dying patients and their families in critical care settings. Initiatives include personalizing the hospital environment through decorations, facilitating special meals, and even organizing significant events like weddings or birthday parties for patients. A standout example includes bringing in mariachi bands to celebrate families, highlighting the importance of music in enhancing the end-of-life experience. Such gestures aim to create positive memories during a profoundly difficult time, showcasing the potential for healthcare workers to impact the emotional well-being of families facing loss.
Personal Stories and Meaningful Keepsakes
A key aspect of the initiative involves granting memorable wishes that often take the form of keepsakes for families to cherish after a loved one's passing. Common requests include fingerprint keychains, locks of hair, and recordings of heartbeats, all designed to provide families with tangible connections to their loved ones. One particularly poignant story involved taking a patient outside to spend their final moments at sunset, which offered the family a specific and meaningful experience. Such unforgettable moments resonate with both families and healthcare staff, emphasizing the emotional significance of these small gestures.
Sustainability and Positive Outcomes
Since its inception, the Three Wishes Project has demonstrated impressive sustainability, having granted over 6,000 wishes since 2017. The program operates with minimal costs, averaging around $32 per wish, primarily funded through philanthropic donations. Research indicates that families involved in the project report higher satisfaction levels in care, emotional support, and overall end-of-life experiences. This data reflects how simple yet impactful acts of kindness can significantly enhance the quality of care for both patients and their families during such critical moments.
Expansion and Future Aspirations
The Three Wishes Project aims to expand beyond UCLA, with plans to implement the initiative in safety net hospitals serving underserved populations. Dr. Neville has secured funding to study its adaptability in diverse healthcare environments, promoting the idea that this compassionate approach can thrive in lower-resource settings. The availability of an online toolkit for other institutions encourages widespread adoption, showcasing the project's mission of normalizing kindness in critical care. Ultimately, the goal is to create a sustainable model that empowers healthcare workers to provide personalized support to families during end-of-life care across various healthcare systems.
On this week’s episode of Critical Care Time, Nick & Cyrus have the honor of hosting Dr. Thanh Neville, MD, MSHS (X @thanh_neville) the director of the 3 Wishes Program out of UCLA. In this moving discussion we explore the importance of dying with dignity when curative intent is no longer a realistic option. We dovetail this with an impassioned exploration Dr. Neville’s incredible work with 3WP which relies on modest funding and the power of humanism to grant priceless gifts - Wishes, if you will - to dying patients and their loved ones in their 11th hour. Please give us a listen and let us know what you think!