Today was 1st day providing virtual palliative care support to families w/ hospitalized loved ones. Goal was to provide clinical information & emotional support, & to answer questions they may have about #COVID19, their loved one’s care & what next few days/weeks might hold. 1/

I have had lots of these conversations over the years — that is to say, time spent speaking with families about their loved one’s experience with serious illness — but I was surprised by how much today’s calls moved me. 2/

I was reminded of just how hard can be for families to not be able to visit their loved ones in the hospital. I was also reminded of just how overwhelming serious medical illness — and the associated medical decision making — can be for patients & families. 3/

But more than anything, I was reminded of something that’s so easy to forget when all we see are tubes, vents & PPE. That is to say, that everyone in hospital right now — #COVID19 or otherwise — had a life before they got sick. And most had a family that loves them very much. 4/

I think that part is clear when families are visiting, telling stories, meeting with care teams. But it can be lost when the disease forces such physical distance on our relationships. 5/

Ultimately, I think families appreciated receiving an extra phone call from the hospital with clinical information & emotional support, and I think any rapport that comes from these calls will make challenging decisions just a little bit easier to discuss over following days. 6/

These are difficult times, and everyone is stretched in so many directions, but I think the more we can facilitate these conversations between care teams and families — the more healing we will see for all involved. 7/