Most General Practitioners are unfamiliar with providing care to terminally ill patients at their homes, although their engagement with terminally ill patients would provide those patients with great benefits. From pain relief to emotional and spiritual support, patients have many needs at the end of their lives, and those needs are often overlooked. According to a survey done in Norway, terminally ill patients can live longer than expected and their needs can change. Doctors who checked in on these patients helped to ensure that they were receiving the care and attention that they needed. Most terminally ill patients prefer to die at home, rather than in a hospital, but this can be problematic as it strains the resources of health care providers.
Key Points:
- 1Hospitals typically provide excellent end-of-life care for their patients. But when GPs assume responsibility for terminal patients, things don’t always go so well.
- 2Perhaps the GP hasn’t seen the patient for several years. Moreover, many GPs have very little experience of palliative care.
- 3“In a survey that we’ve carried out, there are big differences between GPs who follow up and make home visits to terminal patients, and those who neglect this task entirely”
In a survey that we’ve carried out, there are big differences between GPs who follow up and make home visits to terminal patients, and those who neglect this task entirely
Read the full article at: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20161116/GPs-must-be-encouraged-to-play-active-role-in-palliative-care.aspx
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