Treatment Approaches of Palliative Care

Goals of care evolve during the course of a serious illness. Patients, families, and medical staff must recognize that these goals can, and do, change -- often rapidly. Information and open lines of communication are essential if the goals are to be understood by everyone involved in the patient's care. For a patient in the earlier stages of a life-threatening illness, treatments might have the goal of curing the disease. When a cure is not possible, treatment still could be aimed at prolonging the patient's life while managing symptoms. At times during the course of the disease, the major goal might be to restore or maintain function. At other times, particularly toward the end of life, the treatment may focus completely on comfort for the patient and family. This articles gives a brief overview including medical, psychological, and spiritual treatment as well as practical considerations of palliative care. Treatment Approaches of Palliative Care