At the time of her diagnosis with stage 2 breast cancer, “Amy,” a 40-year-old mother of two, received from her gynecologist information about surgical and other treatment options – and a referral for a palliative medicine consultation. In that first wide-ranging two-hour meeting, Amy, her husband, her physician and the palliative care team had a comprehensive discussion of her condition and of her and her family’s goals and expectations for her care. The talk covered treatment options, care expectations, goals for pain relief and symptom management and advance care planning. It also included an evaluation of Amy’s – and her husband’s and children’s – needs for emotional and spiritual counseling, as well as options for her ongoing treatment.

 

As Amy’s treatment and recovery progressed, the palliative care team was with her along the way, providing clinical support as she went through the difficult rounds of treatment, and offering her and her family emotional support as they dealt with the anxiety and adjustments that a cancer diagnosis brings. Amy now proudly counts herself as a cancer survivor and knows that, with proper care, she can look forward to seeing her children grow.

 

Amy’s situation is not unique. In the past decade, the number of hospital-based palliative care teams has doubled. Research now confirms the benefits of palliative care for people facing serious illnesses and injuries. In fact, one recent study has shown that people can actually live longer with early palliative care.

 

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that seriously ill patients who received palliative care services early in their diagnoses lived nearly three months longer and enjoyed an improved quality of life compared to those who didn’t receive the attention of a palliative care team.

 

Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on pain and symptom management and intensive patient-physician-family communication to support complex medical decision-making. Palliative care teams may include physicians, nurses, social workers and chaplains, ensuring that medical treatments align with the needs, goals and priorities of the patient and family.

 

Established in 2008, VITAS Palliative Care Solutions (VPCS), is a subsidiary of VITAS Healthcare Corporation, which also encompasses VITAS Innovative Hospice Care^®, the nation’s leading hospice care provider. Since its inception in 1978, VITAS has been a pioneer in end-of-life care, always finding ways to provide comfort and improve the quality of life for those with life-limiting illness. VPCS brings that knowledge and experience to the palliative care specialty, offering expert pain and symptom management consultations to patients of all ages, at any stage of illness or injury.

 

“Over the years, VITAS recognized that many patients with serious illness or injury could benefit from palliative medicine, early in the disease trajectory and before hospice care would be appropriate or desirable,” says Steven Kanner, M.D., Florida Medical Director for VITAS Palliative Care Solutions. “VITAS Palliative Care Solutions was created as a separate division for both adults and children. Our consultations help patients and their families identify their goals of care and expectations of how their care should continue. It also allows patients to be in control of their care and allow for informed decision making. We also help primary care teams manage their patients’ pain and other symptoms, as well as provide counseling and spiritual support.”

 

The primary goal of the VPCS team, adds Dr. Kanner, is to provide patients and their families with a forum for the discussion of treatment goals and expectations, and to provide the time, information and expertise they need to make informed decisions – especially when considering treatment options.

 

“In many cases, the palliative care team gives patients and families their first opportunity to assemble together, address questions and concerns, and gain an understanding of the big picture,” explains Dr. Kanner. “Palliative care teams can help patients and families discuss their wishes openly and frankly, draft advance care directives and nominate future decision makers.”

 

Palliative care is focused on patients, not diseases, and on improving conditions in the present, notes Dr. Kanner. “Recent studies have shown palliative medicine is very effective,” he says. “Patients undergoing palliative care typically have fewer emergency room visits, shorter hospital stays and improved clinical outcomes, including longer life expectancy research has shown. They also express a higher level of satisfaction with their entire healthcare experience.”

 

As the U.S. population continues to age, the need for palliative care will grow, concludes Dr. Kanner. “VITAS is creating a continuum of care for patients to ensure that throughout the course of their illness, patients and families have access to palliative medicine specialists,” he says.