Rebecca Kirch, JD, executive vice president, Healthcare Quality & Value, National Patient Advocate Foundation, explains the value of palliative care in the context of the triple aim. READ MORE
News
Rebecca Kirch, JD, executive vice president, Healthcare Quality & Value, National Patient Advocate Foundation, explains the value of palliative care in the context of the triple aim.
In patients with cancer who are depressed, a targeted treatment program improves depression and quality of life but does not extend life.
Recent efforts to develop and validate a patient-reported assessment of the quality of palliative cancer care have been successful.
Heightened self-efficacy for symptom management in patients with hematologic cancers prior to undergoing stem cell transplant may be used in improving symptom management and outcomes.
Features
The essential role of patient navigation and care coordination services in helping patients to adhere to their treatment plans.
Research in Review
Results of a recent survey showed that for patients with cancer requiring palliative care, some symptoms and care needs are not strongly associated with specific diagnoses.
Adherence to distress screening protocols could lead to 18% fewer ER visits and 19% fewer hospitalizations.
Resources
The American Society for Radiation Oncology has provided an update to its clinical guideline for palliative-intent radiation therapy in patients with lung cancer, recommending concurrent chemotherapy for some patients with stage III disease.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recently provided a few major updates to their palliative care guidelines.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology has released a new guideline that outlines best practices for cancer clinicians when communicating with patients and their families.
Conferences
Better communication across medical departments can lead to improved outcomes for patients with cancer.
Supportive care most often refers to efforts such as blood transfusions, anticoagulant use, and drug management strategies.
