The American journal of hospice & palliative care
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Oct 2009
ReviewReview article: a model of palliative care for heart failure.
The heart failure illness trajectory is both complex and unpredictable, which makes providing palliative care services to patients with heart failure a challenge. As a result, although services are needed, few tend to be offered beyond basic medical management. ⋯ This type of model, which is based on the ability to predict the course of a terminal disease, does not fit the heart failure trajectory. In this article, we propose a new model of palliative care that conceptualizes palliative care as a philosophy of care that encompasses the unpredictable nature of heart failure.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Oct 2009
ReviewResearch in pediatric palliative care: closing the gap between what is and is not known.
Pediatric palliative care provides physical and psychosocial care to children with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Services are provided by physicians, nurses, volunteers, and other providers in a myriad of settings. Over the past 30 years, a portfolio of research has amassed on palliative care. ⋯ This article is the first in a series and it provides a general overview of what is known and unknown about the provision and need for pediatric palliative care. Subsequent articles will focus on specific topics such as decision making and support care. The purpose of this series is to inform and promote discussion about research in pediatric palliative care.