The research interests of Bjoerg (Bjorg) Thorsteinsdottir, M.D., focus on the ethics and economics of end-of-life care, particularly issues of value and justice in health care. This interest was born out of experiencing firsthand some of the challenges faced by clinicians trying to serve a growing population of older adult patients within the constraints of socialized medicine.

Focus areas

• Shared decision-making for end-stage renal disease. Dr. Thorsteinsdottir is developing a decision aid to facilitate the discussion between clinicians and patients concerning treatment options for end-stage renal disease, including maximum medical treatment without dialysis and palliative care.
• Risk prediction and management of high-risk populations. Dr. Thorsteinsdottir is translating risk prediction for individual, as well as groups of, patients into clinical practice for use at the bedside and for population management.
• Care transitions for high-risk older adult patients. Dr. Thorsteinsdottir is improving posthospital care and care transitions for high-risk older adult patients.
• Early palliative care for high-risk older adult patients. Dr. Thorsteinsdottir is facilitating early home-based palliative care for frail and multimorbid older adult patients.

Significance to patient care

The research goal of Dr. Thorsteinsdottir is to bolster the dignity and autonomy of older adult patients with life-limiting illness by promoting evidence-based decisions that reflect patients' values and goals. She aims to align care with patient goals and values, and to decrease treatment burden near the end of life.