Blue Faery’s Blog
Destigmatizing Palliative Care
Dr. Patel defines palliative care as a form of care that prioritizes quality of life and adds an additional layer of support for patients. When talking to patients about palliative care, he often describes the palliative care team, including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and chaplains, who meet the patients' needs outside medical treatment services.
Improving Liver Cancer Education
Sarah is grateful for the palliative care team that took care of her father at the South Carolina trauma center. She also appreciated the honesty of the physician who diagnosed her father with hepatic renal syndrome because he made it clear that her father was near the end of his life and insisted that they switch to palliative care.
Improving Clinician Communication
Dr. Li feels that shared decision-making is a concept that healthcare agencies made up. About a century ago, healthcare was very paternalistic. The doctor made a recommendation, and patients had to follow it.
Delivering Cancer Care With Compassion
Ryne believes healthcare providers should have more formal training to learn how to deliver difficult news to patients and their families.