A model of palliative care for heart failure

Judith E. Hupcey, Janice Penrod, Kimberly Fenstermacher

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

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. The traditional model of palliative care is typically based on palliative care being considered a system of care delivery most appropriate for patients with a predictable illness/death trajectory, such as terminal cancer. 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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)399-404
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Volume26
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Medicine

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