Bio
Katie Ortlip, RN, LCSW, received her nursing degree from Santa Barbara City College in 1982. She spent three years working in neonatology at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and Mary Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, Vermont. She then spent six years working in pediatrics at Albany Medical Center while earning a BS in Psychology and Masters of Social Work at SUNY-Albany. She moved to Ashland, Oregon, with her family in 1992, and has worked as a nurse and social worker for Asante Hospice for the past twenty years. She studied with Richard and Mary Groves of the Sacred Art of Living Center, completing the Sacred Art of Dying program. She has also studied with Frank Ostaseski, founding director of Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco. She has a special interest in ethics at the end of life, and has attended conferences with Ira Byock, Barbara Karnes and most recently the Kinsman Conference on Stewardship in Health Care. Katie is co-author of Spiritual Tools for the Dying, a booklet distributed by Asante Health Care to all patients on hospice.
Specialties:
- Hospice Nursing
Affiliation:
- Asante Hospice
Group Memberships
Credentials
Activity
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Why should I talk to my doctor about my end-of-life wishes?
It has been well established that the more we discuss our end-of-life wishes, the more likely they are to come true! Having this talk with your doctor with family members present is a good first st...
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Is a social worker brought in on cases involving the terminally ill?
There are social workers available in many settings to provide assistance and counseling to the terminally ill and their families. I know social workers are part of palliative and hospice care team...
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What alternatives to euthanasia does a terminally ill person have?
Alternatives to euthanasia are good palliative and hospice care. All people in their last 6 months of life can have hospice care if they are no longer receiving curative treatment. The hospice team...
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What steps should be taken to communicate a loved one's end of life wishes?
Communication is the key to making sure that a loved one's wishes are respected at the end of life. This, ideally, should be discussed early on in life, and again and again throughout life. Sometim...
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Do people commonly experience pain near the end of life?
Some people experience practically no pain near the end of life, while some have the potential for a lot. I say "potential" because there is no excuse for someone to suffer in pain at the end...
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How should I talk about death to a loved one who has a terminal illness?
First of all, not all people with terminal illnesses want to talk about death. Everyone is different in how they cope and how much they want to share. If someone has been very private or has tended...
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Can I have hospice care at home if I live alone?
Yes. Some people on hospice are able to live alone for a while and manage their medications themselves. The hospice staff will be monitoring the person's safety and their ability to manage their ...
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Will I be asked to stop hospice if I live beyond six months?
Hospice does not automatically stop after 6 months. If you continue to meet the conditions for going on hospice in the first place---you have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of less tha...
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Can a social worker help a family member make end of life decisions?
Of course, the decisions are ultimately up to the individual to make, but the social worker is there to explain the different options, explore with the person and loved ones what their feelin...
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How does a social worker help the person dealing with end of life issues?
The hospice social worker can help the person facing end of life issues and her loved-ones in many different ways. The first is helping with practical business, such as advanced directives, DNR ord...
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When can someone go on hospice?
To be covered by Medicare, Medicaid (both of which cover hospice 100%) and most private health plans, the person's doctor needs to feel that he or she has 6 months or less to live--if the disease...
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When should I talk to my doctor about hospice?
You should feel free to talk with your doctor or health care provider at any time about hospice, especially if you have a life-threatening disease. As people are becoming more aware of hospice, i...
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What is palliative care for heart failure?
Palliative care is comfort care, so when someone has palliative care for heart failure, there are no longer curative options, such as surgery, and other aggressive treatments that require hospitali...
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Is a social worker on call in case of an end of life event?
All hospices have to have social work support as part of the hospice benefit. Social workers are part of the core team. My hospice assigns a social worker to each patient and family. We meet with t...
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In hospice services, what is end-of-life care?
Hospice care IS end-of-life care. When someone has a life-limiting condition from cancer to heart disease, or even simple old age, hospice may be the way to go. Hospice has a team approach with nur...
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