UpToDate is filled with information about palliative management of symptoms and disease states. Just search with the words “Palliative care for . . .”, then the symptom or condition, such as cough or congestive heart failure. Bonus resource: Palliative Care Network...
If a patient's cough won't stop, the first-line medication for palliative treatment is benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) After evaluating and treating the underlying causes of cough, treat the symptom of cough with benzonatate. Treating cough can be invaluable for the...
The long dark days of December can dampen spirits. We appreciate all you do to help patients despite heavy workloads and busy waiting rooms. Wishing you peace and renewal over the holidays! The Journey by David Whyte Above the mountains the geese turn into the light...
Making treatment recommendations that meet your patient’s goals requires that they understand their condition. We use the following phrases to assess understanding when discussing a difficult diagnosis or prognosis. “I have been doing a lot of the talking. Could you...
In dementia, when language and logic are failing, behavior communicates comfort and distress. Yelling in the middle of the night might be communicating many things: “Where am I?” “My hips hurt.” “I’m afraid.” “I’m cold.” Behavior is a two-way street. Keep it slow....
Access to Medical Aid in Dying improved The Washington State legislature made these changes, effective July 23, 2023: Physicians Assistants and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners may now serve as the consulting OR prescribing provider for a patient. The waiting...
Wishing yourself and others well is better than counting sheep . . . . . . and safer than a sedative. Try this beautiful meditation for sleep. Repeat twice for each person. Start with yourself, then slowly move outward, starting with those you hold most dear, then...
Parkinson’s disease has a variable trajectory and patients can be quite disabled months and years before they are hospice eligible. Here are cues that it may be time to transition to a palliative approach: Functional loss Orthostatic hypotension that persists with...
Olanzapine has “broad spectrum” activity for treating nausea. Recent studies confirm olanzapine’s effectiveness for difficult-to-treat nausea in cancer patients whether or not the nausea is related to chemotherapy. Olanzapine acts through multiple receptors, and we...
When rescue efforts don’t work well, consider hospice referral for in-home CHF management. Prognosis in heart failure is tricky. These pieces of history indicate poor prognosis. Brittle fluid management, including use of metolazone, Spending more than 50% of time in...
