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Palliative Medicine Update: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Author(s) -
Vissers Kris C. P.,
Brand Maria W. M.,
Jacobs Jose,
Groot Marieke,
Veldhoven Carel,
Verhagen Constans,
Hasselaar Jeroen,
Engels Yvonne
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/papr.12025
Subject(s) - palliative care , multidisciplinary approach , medicine , specialty , curative care , intervention (counseling) , quality of life (healthcare) , nursing , multitude , multidisciplinary team , task (project management) , health care , family medicine , ambulatory care , social science , philosophy , epistemology , sociology , economics , economic growth , management
Palliative medicine is a young specialty that is officially recognized in relatively few countries. The W orld H ealth O rganization published an adapted definition in 2002, describing palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life‐threatening illness. When the accent is shifting from curative to palliative, the goal of management is the maintenance or improvement of the patient's quality of life. The different dimensions of palliative care and the multitude of types of care to be provided require a multidisciplinary, well‐functioning team, effective communication and a clear task division between primary and hospital care. Considering the complexity of care for incurable patients, a multidisciplinary approach is a prerequisite to balance curative and palliative intervention options. Optimal functioning of a team requires excellent training, communication and a description of the tasks and responsibilities of each team member. More and more advanced care planning is introduced in palliative care, focusing on an early identification of patients in a palliative trajectory and on the prevention of annoying symptoms, hoping that this approach results in an improved quality of life for the individual patient, less useless technical investigations and a better end‐of‐life care on the place the patient and his family desires.