title: End-of-life care: challenges and opportunities for health care professionals.
abstract: The failings of the American Health Care System in meeting the comprehensive needs of the seriously and terminally ill have led to both professional and public efforts to improve end-of-life care. Following a discussion of the shortcomings of end-of-life in America, this article describes the goals and philosophy of palliative care, while highlighting current innovative programs in end-of-life needs and insure quality of life for patients and families experiencing incurable, progressive illness. Health care professionals are called to respond to the challenges and opportunities of end-of-life care as individual health care providers, as members of professions, and as members of interdisciplinary teams committed to improving the care of the dying in America.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Practice Palliative Care Masters Program, New York University, USA.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011788:Quality of Life