Timing of palliative care: When to call for a palliative care consult

J Surg Oncol. 2019 Jul;120(1):30-34. doi: 10.1002/jso.25499. Epub 2019 May 18.

Abstract

Palliative care, unlike hospice, can be utilized concurrently with disease-modifying or curative therapies. Some of the benefits of palliative care include improved quality of life, less end-of-life treatment, and decreased medical costs. Furthermore, palliative care can help guide treatment decisions to be in line with patients' physical, psychological, and spiritual needs. On the basis of these benefits, we advocate for palliative care involvement early in the course of advanced malignancy and other terminal diagnoses.

Keywords: end-of-life care; hospice; metastatic cancer; palliative medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Hospice Care
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Palliative Care / standards
  • Quality of Life
  • Referral and Consultation / standards*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome