- The New York Times Headline, August 19, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/health/20doctors.html?_r=1
The exciting and important study released August 18, 2010 in The New England Journal of Medicine received tremendous attention in the press. Stories ran in The New York Times, Associated Press, Boston Globe, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and over 280 other media outlets. Earlier this month, there was also a powerful article in The New Yorker by Atul Gawande, MD. This extensive coverage provides an opportunity to bring attention to the benefits of palliative care.
Conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital, the study showed that patients with metastatic lung cancer who received palliative care along with standard treatment had improved quality of life, less depression and lived longer than patients who received standard treatment alone. In the same issue, an editorial review of the study by Diane E. Meier, MD and Amy S. Kelly, MD summarized the findings and implications.
The data show that patients receiving palliative care early in their illness may live longer and with better quality of life, including decreased depression.
• The results underscore the need for palliative care early in a serious illness.
• The results would appear to refute the notion that palliative care means giving up. Patients received palliative care alongside their curative treatment.
• Although this is only one study, it is an exciting one. The results are not surprising. Palliative care clinicians regularly see these outcomes in practice.
• The study didn't look at the reasons why the palliative care group felt better and lived longer, but possible reasons may include: patients who feel better are more likely to keep their doctor appointments, complete their treatments and take their medications.
Palliative care is available in over 50% of US hospitals. It should be available in all hospitals to make sure that all people facing serious illness can access it.
Four Seasons offers palliative care in all settings and is nationally recognized for excellence in palliative care.
About Four Seasons
- Compassion For Life
- Western North Carolina
- Since 1981, Four Seasons has been providing a high level of compassionate care for people facing life-limiting illness in North Carolina. We are a non-profit organization led by a dedicated team of health care professionals, social workers, spiritual care professionals and volunteers. Specializing in end-of-life care is our passion. This passion is reflected in all that we do to care for our patients and their loved ones.