"Never before in the history of medicine has there been
more ability to relieve suffering and improve quality of life throughout
the spectrum of illness from diagnosis to death." (von
Gunten 2004)
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Communication with the patient and family are essential for quality care.
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The goals of hospice and palliative care is to increase quality of life.
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Hospice care is care provided to terminally ill patients with the
aim of alleviating distress due to illness-related symptoms.
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Hospice is a philosophy of care not a venue of care.
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Palliative care is care provided to patients anywhere in the illness
trajectory with the aim of alleviating illness-related suffering.
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Symptom control, satisfaction, and cost data underlie the evidence base
for palliative care's effectiveness.
