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Integrating Palliative Care Into Oncology Practice
During this segment, Bruce Feinberg, DO, notes that oncologists commonly question the role of palliative care specialists, as oncologists consider pain management to be part of their job and are often concerned that referring patients to yet another type of oncology professional makes managing a patient’s disease more complex.
Ted Okon, MBA, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance, remarks that not every patient needs to be referred to a palliative care specialist. Rather, he suggests that palliative care should be integrated into oncology practices.
Every healthcare professional within an oncology practice who contributes to a patient’s care needs to better understand what palliative care truly is, suggests Mr Okon. He adds that many people think that palliative care is end-of-life care, but it is not.
He advises that in many instances, the oncology practice can provide palliative care for patients, and that only patients in unique situations need a referral to a palliative care specialist.
Mr Okon says that the emphasis should always be placed on what is appropriate for the patient. “This is about the quality of life for the patient,” he adds.
Higher Life’s Essential 8 Scores Associated With Reduced COPD Risk
November 21st 2024Higher Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) scores, especially those reflecting lower nicotine exposure and better sleep health, are inversely associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk, emphasizing the importance of cardiovascular health (CVH) in disease prevention.
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Study Highlights Key RA-ILD Risk Factors, Urges Early Screening
November 20th 2024This recent study highlights key risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis–associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), emphasizing the importance of early screening to improve diagnosis and patient outcomes.
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Exploring Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Care Prior Authorization Decisions
October 24th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the author of a study published in the October 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® that explored prior authorization decisions in cancer care by race and ethnicity for commercially insured patients.
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Why Right Heart Catheterization Confirming PAH Diagnosis May Be Underperformed
November 20th 2024Professional guidelines say that when pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is diagnosed, right heart catheterization should be performed, but a quarter of the time, it isn’t—so investigators set out to discover why.
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