The Evidence Behind Integrating Palliative Care Into Oncology Practice

Palliative care services provided alongside traditional oncology care have been shown to be beneficial to patients and families. This article provides a brief history of palliative care, a pathway to implementing these services into currently established oncology programs, and a brief discussion of common barriers.

At a Glance

• Palliative care increases quality of life and patient satisfaction and decreases caregiver burden and healthcare costs.
• Palliative care program development requires education, review of population needs and available services, effective screening tools, and participation in quality improvement processes.
• Integration of palliative care into oncology care is expected to increase with the transition to a patient-centered model with value-based reimbursement.