Hospice/palliative care

Hospice and [palliative care]] is branch of medicine that deals with end of life care - it is a type of specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure.

What other names are used?

Hospice and palliative medicine

What services are provided in palliative care?

Patients in palliative care may receive medical care for their symptoms, or palliative care, along with treatment intended to cure their serious illness. Palliative care is meant to enhance a person's current care by focusing on quality of life for them and their family rather than aggressive care that may ultimately be futile.

What is hospice care?

• Hospice care is a type of end of life care that focuses on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life.
• When a disease or illness is incurable, hospice care is an option many are choosing.
• Like palliative care, hospice provides comprehensive comfort care as well as support for the family, but, in hospice, attempts to cure the person's illness are stopped.
• The patient beginning hospice care understands that his or her illness is not responding to medical attempts to cure it or to slow the disease's progress.

What is comfort care?

Hospice is provided for a person with a terminal illness whose doctor believes he or she has six months or less to live if the illness runs its natural course.

Is hospice and palliative care recognized specialty?

In 2006, hospice and palliative medicine was officially recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The co-sponsors include:

The American boards of

• Internal Medicine
• Anesthesiology
• Family Medicine
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Psychiatry and Neurology
• Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Emergency Medicine
• Radiology
• Obstetrics and Gynecology

What education and training is required?

After completion of residency in any of the above fields, that may last from 3 to 7 years, physicians must complete at least 12 months of fellowship in Hospice and Palliative medicine in order to sit for board certification examinations (see below).

What fellowship programs are available in the United States?

As of 2021, there are 156 recognized fellowship programs in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

What certification of specialists is offered?

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is the leading professional organization for physicians subspecializing in hospice and palliative medicine in North America.

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