State Has Improved Access To Palliative Care But There’s Still Room To Get Better, Doctors Say
Meanwhile, palliative care has been shown to be an effective treatment model, so why aren't more patients receiving it?
KPCC:
Is There A Better Way To Treat Seriously Ill Californians?
A new report shows about half of seriously ill Californians have access to palliative care. The number is an improvement over 4 years ago, but some doctors say the state could still do a better job of caring for these patients. (Faust, 6/25)
Sacramento Bee:
This Type Of Care Can Sharply Reduce Medical Costs, So Why Aren't Doctors Ordering It?
Doctors can improve the quality of life for their seriously ill patients while also reducing the patients' medical expenses if they make use of one particular care model, so why aren't they using it? The biggest hurdle might well be the words used to describe it, said Dr. Jeanine Ellinwood, who leads a team in the specialized field. People hear them, she said, and think immediately of hospice care. It's not. It's palliative care, she said, and yes, there is a difference. (Anderson, 6/25)