Palliative Care

Erika Zimmons, MS, DO Reviewed 04/2024

BASICS

Palliative care focuses on preventing and alleviating the suffering of patients (and their families) living at any stage of a life-limiting illness.

DESCRIPTION

The principal goal of palliative ...

DIAGNOSIS

A useful tool in palliative care is the PEACE tool. This tool evaluates (1):

Physical symptoms
Emotive and cognitive symptoms
Autonomy and related issues
Communication: contribution to others ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Targeted interventions to maximize quality of life and minimize symptom burden considering patient values, goals, fears, and social setting
Treatment should involve an interdi...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

Hospice Foundation of America: https://hospicefoundation.org/
National Institute on Aging, “What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care?”: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/wha...

REFERENCES

ElMokhallalati Y, Bradley SH, Chapman E, et al. Identification of patients with potential palliative care needs: a systematic review of screening tools in primary care. Palliat Med. 2020;3...

ADDITIONAL READING

Marshall C, Virdun C, Phillips JL. Evidence-based models of rural palliative care: a systematic review. Palliat Med. 2023:2692163231183994. doi: 10.1177/0269216...

CODES

ICD10

Z51.5 Encounter for palliative care

SNOMED

103735009 palliative care (regime/therapy)
441874000 Seen by palliative care service
305496007 Under care of palliative care physician

CLINICAL PEARLS

Palliative care is a holistic approach to providing comfort to patients with life-limiting illness.
Early referral to palliative care helps enhance the quality of life of patients livin...

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