Integrating palliative care in oncology: the oncologist as a primary palliative care provider.
The provision of comprehensive cancer care in an increasingly complex landscape necessitates that oncology providers familiarize themselves with the application of palliative care. Palliative care is a learnable skill. Recent endeavors in this arena have demonstrated that providing palliative care is part and parcel with providing compassionate and high-quality cancer care, specifically as it pertains to physical and emotional outcomes for patients and their caregivers alike. The basic tenets of providing palliative care emphasize: frequent and honest communication, routine and systematic symptom assessment, integration of spiritual assessments, and early integration of specialized hospice and palliative care resources as a patient's circumstances evolve. This article will endeavor to review and synthesize recent developments in the palliative care literature, specifically as they pertain to the oncologist as a primary palliative care provider.
From the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD.
Deepa
D
Rangachari
Thomas J
TJ
Smith
D017028:Caregivers; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*