Hospice and palliative care: program needs and academic issues

With the renaissance of interest in how best to care for patients with terminal illness comes the need to recognize palliative care and hospice programs as the completion of comprehensive cancer care, not as its antithesis. In practical terms, admission to a hospice program is appropriate when effor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) Vol. 10; no. 7; p. 1070
Main Authors:	von Gunten, C F, Neely, K J, Martinez, J
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 01-07-1996
Subjects:	Comprehensive Health Care Goals Health Services Accessibility Home Care Services Hospice Care - economics Hospice Care - organization & administration Hospitalization Humans Medical Oncology - education Medicare - economics Neoplasms - therapy Nursing Homes Palliative Care - economics Palliative Care - organization & administration Patient Admission Quality of Life Terminal Care United States United States
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Summary:	With the renaissance of interest in how best to care for patients with terminal illness comes the need to recognize palliative care and hospice programs as the completion of comprehensive cancer care, not as its antithesis. In practical terms, admission to a hospice program is appropriate when efforts to control the biologic disease have ceased to be helpful and the primary medical focus is on symptom control and quality of life. In this article, the authors explore the goals of palliative care, review the transition to a hospice program, and assess the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Furthermore, they reflect on the importance of and barriers to the appropriate adoption of palliative care programs as well as palliative care education in oncology.
ISSN:	0890-9091