Palliative Care: Transforming the Care of Serious IllnessDiane E. Meier, Stephen L. Isaacs, Robert Hughes Palliative Care is the first book to provide a comprehensive understanding of the new field that is transforming the way Americans deal with serious illness. Diane E. Meier, M.D., one of the field's leaders and a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius award" in 2009, opens the volume with a sweeping overview of the field. In her essay, Dr. Meier examines the roots of palliative care, explores the key legal and ethical issues, discusses the development of palliative care, and presents ideas on policies that can improve access to palliative care. Dr. Meier's essay is followed by reprints of twenty-five of the most important articles in the field. They range from classic pieces by some of the field's pioneers, such as Eric Cassel, Balfour Mount, and Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, to influential newer articles on topics such as caregiving and cost savings of palliative care. The reprints cover a wide range of topics including:
The demand for palliative care has been nothing short of stunning largely because of palliative care's positive impact on both the quality and the cost of care provided to seriously ill individuals. By providing a wide-ranging perspective on this growing field, this book will serve as a guide for developing meaningful approaches that will lead to better health care for all Americans. |
Contents
| 1 | |
WHY IS IT AN IMPORTANT | 77 |
DECISIONS NEAR THE END OF LIFE | 93 |
EFFORTS TO COPE WITH DEATH AND PROVIDE CARE | 107 |
THE NATURE OF SUFFERING AND THE GOALS OF MEDICINE | 125 |
THE NATURE OF SUFFERING AND THE GOALS OF NURSING | 137 |
THE DISTINGUISHED THING | 153 |
EXPANDING BOUNDARIES | 159 |
USE OF HOSPITALS PHYSICIAN VISITS AND HOSPICE CARE | 223 |
FAMILY PERSPECTIVES ON ENDOFLIFE CARE AT THE LAST PLACE | 235 |
PAIN AND MEDICAL DECISION MAKING | 249 |
RESPONDING TO INTRACTABLE TERMINAL SUFFERING | 277 |
RESPONSE TO QUILL AND BYOCK RESPONDING | 291 |
OUTCOMES FROM A NATIONAL MULTISPECIALTY PALLIATIVE | 311 |
VARIABILITY IN ACCESS TO HOSPITAL PALLIATIVE CARE IN | 349 |
DO PALLIATIVE CONSULTATIONS IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES? | 369 |
SOCIAL LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES | 165 |
A TRAGEDY COMPOUNDED | 177 |
RESEARCH INTO ENDOFLIFE CARE | 183 |
FACTORS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT AT THE END OF LIFE | 205 |
COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH U S HOSPITAL PALLIATIVE | 383 |
UNDERSTANDING ECONOMIC AND OTHER BURDENS | 413 |
FINDING OUR WAY | 431 |