Palliative and Serious Illness Patient Management for Physician Assistants

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Medical Specialty ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
Medical Providers ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Serious Illness ◽  
Comprehensive Management ◽  
Centered Care

There are still medical providers who believe palliative care medicine is limited to care of the dying. It is actually devoted to relief of suffering at every stage of life. Comprehensive management of patients with serious illness, including the relief of their symptoms, impacts their lives and those of their families, significant others, and caregivers, including healthcare providers. The knowledge and skills inherent in this medical specialty enables them all to grow and fosters resilience in their lives. Patient centered care is the best model that incorporates team practice with physicians and other healthcare professionals, and this is a cornerstone of palliative care medicine. Furthermore, PAs are compassionate listeners who provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of vulnerable patient populations across the life span and in all healthcare settings. Among medical providers involved in palliative care medicine, PAs are the only group whose accreditation requirements incorporate this knowledge and training. This text represents a new resource for PAs, clinicians, researchers, and educators of the profession to further facilitate its expansion into palliative and serious illness care. PAs are thereby poised to reduce the workforce shortage of healthcare professionals in palliative care medicine.

Integrating Principles and Practice of Palliative Medicine in Emergency Care

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia J. O’Malley
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Medical Specialty ◽  
Family Satisfaction ◽  
Emergency Setting ◽  
Advanced Illness ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Serious Illness ◽  
Breaking Bad ◽  
Communication Competencies ◽  
Aggressive Interventions

Trajectories of serious illness and dying have changed in the last century; people now live longer, often with prolonged debility in advanced stages of illness. With more options for aggressive interventions at the end of life, patients and families face increasingly complex medical decisions. Many of these patients will present repeatedly to the emergency department (ED) before their death, and emerging evidence suggests that integrating palliative care into the treatment of advanced illness, including in the emergency setting, can improve outcomes. This review covers changing trajectories of illness and death, palliative care as a medical specialty, emerging models of integration, essential palliative care competencies for the ED clinician, and managing the actively dying patient in the ED. Figures show palliative care through the trajectory of serious illness, theoretical trajectories of disease, life expectancies for women and men, and patient-centered communication. Tables list philosophy of palliative care, domains of suffering addressed by palliative care, palliative performance scale, NURSE mnemonic for accepting and responding to emotion, palliative care communication competencies in the intensive care unit: effect on clinical outcomes and family satisfaction, and SPIKES mnemonic for breaking bad news.   This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 6 tables, and 113 references

scholarly journals A literature-based study of patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient interactions: barriers, facilitators, and the way forward

BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abukari Kwame ◽  
Pammla M. Petrucka
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Optimal Health ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Institutional Communication ◽  
Clinical Interactions

AbstractProviding healthcare services that respect and meet patients’ and caregivers’ needs are essential in promoting positive care outcomes and perceptions of quality of care, thereby fulfilling a significant aspect of patient-centered care requirement. Effective communication between patients and healthcare providers is crucial for the provision of patient care and recovery. Hence, patient-centered communication is fundamental to ensuring optimal health outcomes, reflecting long-held nursing values that care must be individualized and responsive to patient health concerns, beliefs, and contextual variables. Achieving patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient clinical interactions is complex as there are always institutional, communication, environmental, and personal/behavioural related barriers. To promote patient-centered care, healthcare professionals must identify these barriers and facitators of both patient-centered care and communication, given their interconnections in clinical interactions. A person-centered care and communication continuum (PC4 Model) is thus proposed to orient healthcare professionals to care practices, discourse contexts, and communication contents and forms that can enhance or impede the acheivement of patient-centered care in clinical practice.

Patient-Centered Care and Autonomy: Shared Decision-Making in Practice and a Suggestion for Practical Application in the Critically Ill

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 1352-1355
Author(s):  
Marianna V. Mapes ◽  
Peter A. DePergola ◽  
William T. McGee
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Patient Centeredness ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Centered Care

Decision-making for the hospitalized dying and critically ill is often characterized by an understanding of autonomy that leads to clinical care and outcomes that are antithetical to patients’ preferences around suffering and quality of life. A better understanding of autonomy will facilitate the ultimate goal of a patient-centered approach and ensure compassionate, high-quality care that respects our patients’ values. We reviewed the medical literature and our experiences through the ethics service, palliative care service, and critical care service of a large community teaching hospital. The cumulative experience of a senior intensivist was filtered through the lens of a medical ethicist and the palliative care team. The practical application of patient-centered care was discerned from these interactions. We determined that a clearer understanding of patient-centeredness would improve the experience and outcomes of care for our patients as well as our adherence to ethical practice. The practical applications of autonomy and patient-centered care were evaluated by the authors through clinical interactions on the wards to ascertain problems in understanding their meaning. Clarification of autonomy and patient-centeredness is provided using specific examples to enhance understanding and application of these principles in patient-centered care.

Healthcare Providers’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Practice Behaviors for Educating Patients About Advance Directives: A National Survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances R. Nedjat-Haiem ◽  
Tamara J. Cadet ◽  
Anup Amatya ◽  
Shiraz I. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Practice Behaviors ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Seriously Ill Patients

Background: Advance care planning for end-of-life care emerged in the mid-1970’s to address the need for tools, such as the advance directive (AD) legal document, to guide medical decision-making among seriously ill patients, their families, and healthcare providers. Objective: Study aims examine providers’ perspectives on AD education that involve examining (1) a range of attitudes about educating patients, (2) whether prior knowledge was associated with practice behaviors in educating patients, and (3) specific factors among healthcare providers such as characteristics of work setting, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that may influence AD education and documentation. Design: To examine providers’ views, we conducted a cross-sectional, online survey questionnaire of healthcare providers using social media outreach methods for recruitment. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design to examine the proposed aims. Healthcare providers, recruited through a broad approach using snowball methods, were invited to participate in an online survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine providers’ views toward AD education. Results: Of 520 participants, findings indicate that most healthcare providers said that they were knowledgeable about AD education. They also viewed providing education as beneficial to their practice. These findings suggest that having a positive attitude toward AD education and experiencing less organizational barriers indicate a higher likelihood that providers will educate patients regarding ADs. Conclusion: Various disciplines are represented in this study, which indicates that attitudes and knowledge influence AD discussions. The importance of AD discussions initiated by healthcare providers is critical to providing optimal patient-centered care.

scholarly journals Healing at the End of Life: The Voice of the Patient

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory Ingram
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Life Story ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Whole Person ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
The Impact

In palliative care we have the privilege to care for seriously ill people and their families. Some people value capturing their life story or illness journey on film. I have been fortunate to have been invited into the lives of many people close the end of life for a heartfelt conversation.On an interactive iPad incorporated in the poster, the recorded narrative of patients and one bereft spouse the poster audience will experience the lived experience of people close to the end of life as they reflect on their lives. The narratives will demonstrate how each lived with a new found improved quality of life in the face of increasing symptoms, declining functioning and the approaching end of life; otherwise known as healing. Topics of healing and quality of life, patient-centered care, dignity, human development, spirituality and love will be the focus of their stories. The stories lay bare the very practical, emotional, existential, and personal experience central to our provision of whole person care through palliative care. The poster audience will experience a renewed sense of the impact of a dedicated approach to whole person care as experienced through those on the receiving end.

scholarly journals The University Medical Centre: A student’s perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Hubert ◽  
Cameron Pow ◽  
Sandra Tullio-Pow
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
Medical Centre ◽  
First Year ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
The University ◽  
University Setting

Over 515,000 students attended Ontario Universities in 2015/16, including 60,000 international students from abroad (https://ontario universityes.ca/resources/data/numbers). First-year students who are away from home find themselves needing a new primary care physician. While a few researchers have examined student health care within the university setting in regard to mental health (Evans, 1999), sexual health (Habel et al., 2018)., and health promotion (Griebler et al., 2017), there has been little research focused on the first-year student experience in finding primary care. Our study examined communication pathways, wayfinding and misconceptions students have related to the university medical centre. Patient centered care involves a partnership between a healthcare provider and their patient. In this partnership healthcare professionals must consider the patient experience and be more informative, mindful, empathic and collaborative to provide the best possible care (Epstein & Street, 2011).

Caring for Patients with Service Dogs: Information for Healthcare Providers

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Krawczyk
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Support ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Service Dogs ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Service Dog ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Centered Care

People with disabilities use various assistance devices to improve their capacity to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Service dogs can be crucial lifesaving companions for their owners. As the use of service dogs increases, nurses are more likely to encounter them in healthcare settings. Service dogs are often confused with therapy or emotional support dogs. While some of their roles overlap, service dogs have distinct protection under the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Knowing the laws and proper procedures regarding service dogs strengthens the abilities of healthcare providers to deliver holistic, patient-centered care. This article provides background information about use of dogs, and discusses benefits to patients and access challenges for providers. The author reviews ADA laws applicable to service dog use and potential challenges and risks in acute care settings. The role of the healthcare professional is illustrated with an exemplar, along with recommendations for future research and nursing implications related to care of patients with service dogs.

Providing Patient Centered Care for Adolescents with Chronic Conditions

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
Nabeel Al-Yateem
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Study Phase ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: It is well acknowledged that clear, structured healthcare services that are mutually developed between the patient and the healthcare professionals are likely to be of high quality, desirable, and effective. Such service should address the complexity of the illness-health experience in terms of the factors that influence it as well as the physical and psychosocial consequences on the patient. The required focus should be on treating the patient rather than just treating the disease.Objectives: To develop relevant and feasible care guidelines that may inform more competent and patient centered services for adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions.Methodology: A sequential exploratory mixed method design guided this study. The first qualitative phase employed in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of adolescents and young adults about the health services they were receiving. This was followed by focus group interviews with healthcare professionals to discuss the patients’ reported needs and to suggest interventions that would address them. Finally, a second quantitative phase was carried out through a survey to explore the views of a larger sample of service stakeholders about the relevance and feasibility of the suggested guidelines for clinical practice.Results: The in-depth interviews revealed four main themes, as follows: a current amorphous service, sharing knowledge, the need to be at the center of service, and easing the transition process to adulthood. The second study phase yielded 32 proposed guidelines that may contribute to more competent and patient centered health care.

Thoughts About Meanings of Compliance, Adherence, and Concordance

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 358-360
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Fawcett
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Patient Autonomy ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Or Groups ◽  
Health Related Behaviors ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Health Related

The purpose of this essay is to explore the meanings of the widely used terms compliance and adherence and the less widely used term concordance and to raise questions about the appropriateness of these terms when used to describe individuals’ or groups’ health-related behaviors. Discussion focuses on how recognition of how the meanings of these terms has uncovered the failure to honor nursing’s emphasis on person/patient-centered care due to power imbalances between healthcare providers and patents and the subsequent lack of patient autonomy. Consideration of these problems with existing terms could facilitate identification of a potentially more appropriate term based on the language of a nursing conceptual model and/or theory.

scholarly journals What Do Clinicians Who Deliver Maternity Services Think Patient-Centered Care Is and How Is That Different for Vulnerable Women? A Qualitative Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted Adams ◽  
Dana Sarnak ◽  
Joy Lewis ◽  
Jeff Convissar ◽  
Scott S. Young
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Institute Of Medicine ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Maternity Services ◽  
Centered Care

Background. Patient-centered care is said to have a myriad of benefits; however, there is a lack of agreement on what exactly it consists of and how clinicians should deliver it for the benefit of their patients. In the context of maternity services and in particular for vulnerable women, we explored how clinicians describe patient-centered care and how the concept is understood in their practice. Methods. We undertook a qualitative study using interviews and a focus group, based on an interview guide developed from various patient surveys focused around the following questions: (i) How do clinicians describe patient-centered care? (ii) How does being patient-centered affect how care is delivered? (iii) Is this different for vulnerable populations? And if so, how? We sampled obstetricians and gynecologists, midwives, primary care physicians, and physician assistants from a health management organization and fee for service clinician providers from two states in the US covering insured and Medicaid populations. Results. Building a relationship between clinician and patient is central to what clinicians believe patient-centered care is. Providing individually appropriate care, engaging family members, transferring information from clinician to patient and from patient to clinician, and actively engaging with patients are also key concepts. However, vulnerable women did not benefit from patient-centered care without first having some of their nonmedical needs met by their clinician. Discussion. Most providers did not cite the core concepts of patient-centered care as defined by the Institute of Medicine and others.

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