Page 14 - Delaware Medical Journal - April 2017
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Palliative Care Across the Continuum
Roshni Guerry, MD; Linsey O’Donnell, DO
In today’s medical system, care at the end-of-life has been increasingly brought into focus within health care systems, communities, and in the media at large. It is estimated that
30 percent of all Medicare expenditures are attributed to the
spending within the last month of life.1
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious and life-threatening illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms and stress of chronic illness while
improving quality of life for both the patients and their families. Palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment.2
• Improved quality of life
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Del Med J | April 2017 | Vol. 89 | No. 4
