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Abstract
Palliative care is an approach to the care of patients and families facing progressive and chronic illnesses that focuses on the relief of suffering due to physical symptoms, psychosocial issues, and spiritual distress. As neurologists care for patients with chronic, progressive, life-limiting, and disabling conditions, it is important that they understand and learn to apply the principles of palliative medicine. In this article, we aim to provide a practical starting point in palliative medicine for neurologists by answering the following questions: (1) What is palliative care and what is hospice care? (2) What are the palliative care needs of neurology patients? (3) Do neurology patients have unique palliative care needs? and (4) How can palliative care be integrated into neurology practice? We cover several fundamental palliative care skills relevant to neurologists, including communication of bad news, symptom assessment and management, advance care planning, caregiver assessment, and appropriate referral to hospice and other palliative care services. We conclude by suggesting areas for future educational efforts and research.
GLOSSARY
- MS=
- multiple sclerosis;
- PD=
- Parkinson disease
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
Supplemental data at Neurology.org
- Received January 31, 2014.
- Accepted in final form April 27, 2014.
- © 2014 American Academy of Neurology
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- Response to Dr. Gillum
- Palliative crisis
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You May Also be Interested in
- Article
- Abstract
- GLOSSARY
- WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE AND WHAT IS HOSPICE CARE?
- WHAT ARE THE PALLIATIVE CARE NEEDS OF NEUROLOGY PATIENTS?
- DO NEUROLOGY PATIENTS HAVE UNIQUE PALLIATIVE CARE NEEDS?
- WHAT PALLIATIVE CARE SKILLS DO NEUROLOGISTS NEED?
- COMMUNICATION AT THE TIME OF DIAGNOSIS
- SYMPTOM ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
- ADVANCE CARE PLANNING
- CAREGIVER ASSESSMENT
- APPROPRIATE REFERRAL FOR SPECIALIZED PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES AND HOSPICE
- WHAT RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO SET UP A PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM IN MY PRACTICE?
- RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES
- AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
- STUDY FUNDING
- DISCLOSURE
- Footnotes
- REFERENCES
- Figures & Data
- Info & Disclosures
- CME Course
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