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Integrating palliative care into disease management guidelines.
Linda Emanuel1, Carla Alexander, Robert M Arnold
1Buehler Center on Aging, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Journal of Palliative Medicine
|February 3, 2005
Summary
Palliative care, a comprehensive approach to minimizing suffering, should be integrated into disease management from diagnosis. This ensures patients with significant illnesses receive timely and appropriate supportive care throughout their journey.
Area of Science:
- Medical Humanities
- Oncology
- Palliative Medicine
Background:
- Palliative care is crucial for managing suffering in patients with significant illnesses, not just those nearing end-of-life.
- Early integration of palliative care from diagnosis enhances comprehensive patient support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a practical framework for incorporating palliative care into existing disease management guidelines.
- To guide healthcare professionals in applying palliative care principles across various stages of illness.
Main Methods:
- A consensus-based approach was employed to create recommendations for guideline enhancement.
- A template was developed to identify optimal integration points for palliative care within disease management protocols.
Main Results:
- The template suggests integrating palliative care into introductory (prognosis), diagnostic (whole-patient assessment), treatment (goal-setting, interventions), and concluding (bereavement) sections of guidelines.
- Recommendations include interdisciplinary team care and palliative care consultation services.
Conclusions:
- The American Hospice Foundation Guidelines Committee advocates for embedding palliative care into all phases of disease management guidelines.
- This integration aims to improve the quality of care and reduce suffering for patients with significant illnesses.