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Palliative Care

Erika Zimmons, MS, DO Reviewed 05/2023
 


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 (2): 
  • 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

1
Dumanovsky T, Augustin R, Rogers M, Lettang K, Meier DE, Morrison RS. The Growth or Palliative Care in U.S. Hospitals: A Status Report. J Palliat Med. 2016;19(1):8-15.
2
ElMokhallalati Y, Br...

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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