Palliative care becoming more available in the United States
October 3, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Access to the services of a palliative care team is a bit easier in 2008 than it was in 2000 in the United States, according to a recent survey.
In 2000, only a few hospitals offered palliative care but now, more than half of the 50-bed or larger hospitals in the U.S. offer palliative care services. The larger the hospital, the higher the rate. If a hospital has 250 beds or more, the rate is just over 72%, but hospitals with fewer than 50 beds, the number was much lower. The biggest growth in palliative care was seen in the midwest.
The researchers also found that medical schools were providing more palliative care training to their students, allowing doctors a better understanding of the dying process and how best to help patients and their families in the final months, weeks, and days. According to the study, 84% of medical schools in the U.S. were able to provide this palliative care access to their students.
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Image: iStock
Tags: chronic pain blog, pain blog, palliative care, palliative care services
