Dr. Amanda Altobell is the Director of Ethics at Mercy Springfield, where she helps patients, families, and care teams navigate some of the most emotionally complex moments in health care. Trained as both a clinician and ethicist, her work is deeply shaped by hands-on hospice experience, a death and dying fellowship, and her own personal journey supporting loved ones through the end of life. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Altobell challenges the way we think about death—especially the belief that dying means failure. She explains why modern medicine often confuses “doing everything” with “doing what’s right,” why hospice is so often misunderstood, and how a simple advance directive can prevent devastating family conflict. She also breaks down hard truths most people never hear: why CPR is rarely successful, what medical TV shows get wrong, how Missouri’s unique laws leave families legally powerless, and why waiting “until later” to plan is often too late. This episode is honest, compassionate, and deeply human—an essential listen for anyone who has aging parents, works in health care, or simply wants to live (and die) with dignity.

What does hospice really look like — and why do so many families misunderstand it?

In this episode of In Good Company, we sit down with Kim Therriault, Director of Hospice at Haven Home Health and Hospice, whose decades-long career has been shaped by one defining belief: people deserve choice, dignity, and a voice at the end of life.

Kim shares the pivotal moment that changed how she practices hospice care forever — a conversation with a patient who chose the freedom to drive his restored car over stronger pain medication. That moment became the foundation of her approach to care: honoring what matters most to the patient, not just the diagnosis.

Throughout the conversation, Kim breaks down:

• Why hospice is often misunderstood — and why families wait too long

• How hospice can actually extend life and improve quality of living

• The power of self-referral and starting the conversation sooner

• Why control, autonomy, and honest conversations matter more than aggressive treatment

• How hospice supports not just patients, but entire families

This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, adult children, healthcare professionals, and anyone navigating serious illness — or who simply wants to understand what compassionate, patient-centered care truly means.

Because hospice isn’t about giving up. It’s about choosing how you live — right to the very end. #InGoodCompanyPodcast #HospiceCare #HospiceAwareness #EndOfLifeCare #PatientChoice #DignityInCare #QualityOfLife #Caregivers #ElderCare #HealthcareWithHeart #MeaningfulConversations #MustListen

In this episode of In Good Company, we’re joined by Dr. Will Vincel, a general dentist at Ozarks Preferred Dental Group in Springfield, Missouri, and an adjunct assistant professor at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine. With much of his practice focused on older adults, Dr. Vincel shares a patient-first approach centered on listening, conservative care, and clear communication.

We discuss why slowing down matters in healthcare, how involving family improves outcomes, and what it truly means to deliver dignified care as we age.

Learn more about Dr. Vincel and his practice at my417dentist.com.