Hospice news

The first national Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, released in April 2004, is on the Web and available for download. The guidelines were developed by experts across the field to assist the rapidly growing number of palliative care programs established in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and health systems deliver high-quality, state-ofthe-art care to seriously ill patients and their families. “These guidelines couldn’t be more timely, with increasing numbers of Americans who suffer from advanced, chronic illness and need the relief and support that palliative care provides,” said Charles von Gunten, MD, PhD, Medical Director at the Center for Palliative Studies in San Diego. “The new clinical practice guidelines will enable palliative care specialists and other healthcare professionals to deliver the highest quality palliative care in all settings to this rapidly expanding patient population.” Healthcare professionals delivering palliative care can use the guidelines to provide specialized care to their sickest and most complex patients, resulting in higher patient/family satisfaction with the care they receive and with the healthcare system in general. The guidelines combine the expertise of leading organizations and their members, including more than 50,000 healthcare professionals and consumers from all 50 states, and grow out of more than 20 years of research and experience into what kind of care best meets the needs of patients with advanced chronic or lifethreatening illnesses. Eight key areas are covered in detail, including the following: