Activating Patients and Families to Improve Palliative Care: The Waiting Room Revolution
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Published on: February 16, 2011
Hsien Seow1, Samantha Winemaker2
1An associate professor in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, and an ICES scientist. He is a Canada Research Chair in palliative care and health system innovation with research interests in improving the lives of patients and families facing a serious illness. He is a co-host of the podcast The Waiting Room Revolution. He can be reached by e-mail at seowh@mcmaster.ca.
Abstract:
We need to support and educate palliative care specialists and generalist providers, especially family physicians, on how to integrate an early palliative care approach into care for those with a serious illness. However, there are very few care providers compared to the number of patients and caregivers in society. To increase access to palliative care at a population level, we need a waiting room revolution, one where patients and families shift from being passive to being active in shaping their experience with serious illness. A co-design approach with patients and families can help overcome barriers to accessing palliative care and improve the overall experience.
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