Palliative Care

Erika Zimmons, DO, MS Reviewed 06/2019

BASICS

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

DESCRIPTION

The principal goa...

DIAGNOSIS

The PEACE tool evaluates (1):

Physical symptoms
Emotive and cognitive symptoms
Autonomy and related issues
Communication: contribution to others and closure of life affairs–related issues
Econom...

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...

REFERENCES

Okon TR, Evans JM, Gomez CF, et al. Palliative educational outcome with implementation of PEACE tool integrated clinical pathway. J Palliat Med. 2004;7(2):279–295. [View Abstract on ...

CODES

ICD10

Z51.5 Encounter for palliative care

ICD9

V66.7 Encounter for palliative care

SNOMED

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

CLINICAL PEARLS

Early referral to palliative care helps enhance the quality of life of patients living with serious illness.
The addition of adjuvant treatments may be more effective than narcotics alo...

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