Palliative care at home: general practitioners working with palliative care teams.
Home care is the preferred option for most people with a terminal illness. Providing home care relies on good community-based services, and a general practice workforce competent in palliative care practice and willing to accommodate patients' needs. Structured palliative care training of general practitioners is needed at undergraduate and postgraduate level, with attention to barriers to teamwork and communication. Good palliative care can be delivered to patients at home by GPs (supported by specialist palliative care teams) and community nurses, with access to an inpatient facility when required. To optimise patient care, careful planning and good communication between all members of the healthcare team is crucial.
Yuen
Kevin J
KJ
Cancer Foundation Cottage Hospice, and Royal Perth Hospital, Shenton Park, WA 6008. kyuen@cancerwa.asn.au
Behrndt
Margaret M
MM
Jacklyn
Christopher
C
Mitchell
Geoffrey K
GK
D001315:Australia; D005194:Family Practice; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013727:Terminal Care