title: Quality palliative care in long-term care settings.
abstract: It is paramount that physicians and midlevel practitioners who care for residents in long-term care facilities be able to provide high-quality comfort care to their patients, the majority of whom are frail and suffering from chronic and progressive diseases. Physicians must be knowledgeable in the assessment, prevention, and relief of patients' physical, emotional, and spiritual distress, as well as develop appropriate attitudes, knowledge, and skills to care for patients who are in the last years of life. The provision of high-quality palliative care is the essence of long-term care medicine.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Program, Residency Division, Department of Family Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, 900 Northeast 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. peter-winn@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Peter A S
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Winn
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Dentino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000592:standards; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010819:Physician's Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States