Table 4.

Participant descriptions of continuity and closure: How physicians and nurses can ensure that patients and families do not feel abandoned

	Continuity	Closure
Before death	Address concerns about continuity proactively, including assurances that the physician and nurse will continue to be available Maintain contact with patient and family as death approaches, often by phone	Anticipate and acknowledge the probable last visit with a patient
After death	(after death, the work of nonabandonment is in closure)	Call the family member after death Write a bereavement letter