Three Wishes Project Grants Dying Wishes to ICU Patients
From renewing wedding vows to reuniting lost family members – the three wishes projects strives to bring compassionate care to dying patients and their families in the intensive care unit.
The project began two years ago at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton with the goal of bringing peace to the last few moments of patients’ lives. A set of three wishes generated by patients, families and clinicians were implemented by staff in the ICU with the hopes of achieving this goal.
A study led by Dr. Deborah Cook was published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine, revealing how the three wishes project succeeded in improving the experiences of patients, families and clinicians in the ICU. The study noted how the project successfully implemented 97.5% of the wishes requested, at a cost ranging from $0 to $200 per patient.
Learn more about the story from our media partners:
Read
Three Wishes program offers compassion to the dying and their families – The Hamilton Spectator
McMaster and St. Joes grant dying wishes, and comfort comes cheap – CBC Hamilton
'Three wishes' program attempts to bring death-bed requests to reality – CTV News
St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton fulfills dying ICU patients' last wishes – Huffington Post
One-of-a-kind Hamilton hospital program grants wishes to dying patients - Yahoo News Canada
Wish program aims to make dying in a hospital ICU more humane - The Globe and Mail
Fulfilling 'three wishes' helps ICU staff honor dying patients - Business Insider
Watch
Elise Copps speaks to a family member that participated in the three wishes project – CHCH News
Listen
A new St. Joe's program is providing comfort for patients on their deathbed - AM900 CHML
Patients' Wishes - CBC