This article starts out making sense and then becomes nonsensical. Is this what the future holds for palliative care?
“Medical Care originally was palliative.”
"Care was provided in the home and the physician-patient relationship was interwoven into the spirit and culture of the community."
"With advances in medicine and technology came a breakdown in this original model."
"This breakdown has led to unintended hospitalization at the end of life."
"Dr. Balfour Mount coined the term “palliative care” that would be free of the negative connotation associated with hospice."
"The multi-morbid aging population are transitioning between hospitals, nursing home, clinics and home." (What happened to honoring the patient’s preference to be treated at home? Why are
there "undesirable" hospital-based palliative programs?)
"More community-based programs are needed." (The question is not who will staff these programs, but who will pay for them?)
Describing palliative care delivery as "time-intensive and anxiety-provoking work" is contrary to my feeling that it reduces stress and promotes peace of
mind.
There exists a fundamental misunderstanding of what palliative care is and should be. Amen!
