Palliative care guidelines available on the Internet

The new palliative care guidelines developed through the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care are available on the Internet at www.nationalconsensusproject.org. The document divides the guidelines into eight areas, or domains. Those domains, and some of the topics covered by each, are:

1. Structure and Process of Care
— Basing a care plan on a comprehensive interdisciplinary assessment of the patient and family
— Basing a care plan on identified and expressed values and needs of the patient and family
— Use of an interdisciplinary team approach using trained personnel
— Dedication to quality improvement

2. Physical Aspects of Care
— Management of pain and other side effects based on scientific information

3. Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects of Care
— Managing psychological and psychiatric issues based on the best available evidence
— Availability of a grief-and-grieving program

4. Social Aspects of Care
— Using a comprehensive interdisciplinary assessment to identify social needs of patients and families

5. Spiritual, Religious, and Existential Aspects of Care
— Assessing and skillfully responding to spiritual needs based on the best available evidence

6. Cultural Aspects of Care
— Assessing the culture-specific needs of the patient and family

7. Care of the Imminently Dying Patient
— Recognizing and communicating signs of impending death

8. Ethical and Legal Aspects of Care
— Respecting the patient’s goals and preferences, and using them to form the basis of the care plan
— Addressing the complex ethical issues in the care of people with life-threatening illnesses