Health Advocacy Resources

HEALTH RESOURCES

Please utilize and share these websites, books, and films that I’ve found helpful. My hope is that they provide guidance and support for patients and families.

WEBSITES

The Conversation Project
theconversationproject.org/

Five Wishes— Advanced planning program
www.fivewishes.org

California POLST forms (Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment)
polst.org/about/
POLST is a form that clearly states what kind of medical treatment patients would want towards the end of life. Printed on bright pink paper, and signed by both a patient and physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, POLST gives patients more control over their care.

Choosing Wisely—the mission of Choosing Wisely is to promote conversations between clinicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is supported by evidence, not duplicative of other tests and procedures already received, free from harm, truly necessary
www.choosingwisely.org/our-mission/

Death Over Dinner—How we want to die-represents the most important and costly conversation America isn’t having…
deathoverdinner.org/

Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)
California End of Life Option Act—EOLCCA
endoflifechoicesca.org/California-end-of-life-option-act/

drugs.com
www.drugwatch.com/
www.rxlist.com/
Worst Pills, Best Pills

Institute for Functional Medicine
Mercola – Take Control Of Your Health
Common Wealth Fund – A Foundation Dedicated to Affordable, Quality Health Care for Everyone
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

BOOKS & MOVIES

  • Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life, Dr. Ira Byock
  • Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness, Dr. Joanne Lynne
  • Knocking on Heavens Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death, Katy Butler
  • Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, Atul Gawande
  • When Breath Becomes Air, Dr. Paul Kalanithi
  • That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour, Dr. Sunita Puri
  • Midwife Through the Dying Process: Stories of Healing and Hard Choices at the End of Life, Dr. Timothy Quill
  • How We do Harm: A Doctor Breaks Ranks About Being Sick in America, Dr. Otis Webb Brawley
  • Let’s Talk About Death Over Dinner, an Invitation and Guide to Life’s Most Important Conversation, Michael Herb
    Further Reading Recommendations Provided on Request

Disclaimer: I have found the resources listed here as helpful and list them only to help others.  I do not receive any monetary compensation from these resources. I do not accept responsibility for the contents of these resources. If you have any concerns with these resources, please contact the resource directly and contact me with your concerns so I can review and determine if the resource should remain on my site. Thank you.

Anam Cara Health Advocate

Still Looking For Answers?

Over my 40 years of experience I have seen how fragmented the healthcare system has become. I can help bring clarity and peace of mind to patients and their families looking for answers.