Question

How does hospice and palliative care differ from the traditional medical model of health care delivery? What are the benefits to patients who elect these services in lieu of traditional medical care?

Answer 1

Traditional medical model

In olden days the training part of the physicians are mainly focused on treating acute illness.The physicians are responsible for diagnosing the illness deciding on an appropriate treatment and assuring that the treatment is carried out as prescribed.the classic example is treatment for the hospitalized patients. It mainly relies on medicine. The physician is the dominant person in this model.

Palliative and hospice care

Palliative care begins at diagnosis and at the same time as treatment. It prevent symptoms and side effects of disease and treatment.it also treats emotional, social, practical and spiritual problems that illnesses can bring up.

Hospice care begins after treatment of the disease is stopped and when it is clear that the person is not going to survive the illness.

Both palliative and hospice care provide comfort.both are mainly used to manage chronic illness cases.both can be given in home set up.These palliative and hospice care not only relies on medicine and also includes nutritional guidance, physical therapy, occupational therapy and integrative therapy. It can be given by team of doctors, nurses, registered nutritionists, social workers, psychologists, massage therapists and chaplains.

Benefits of selecting palliative and hospice Care along with traditional medical model

It helps to improve the coping skills of the patients as well as care givers in case of chronic illness management.eg., cancer patients, end stage renal disease patients etc.,

It helps to improve the quality of life of patients as well as care givers.

Helps in finance.

Helps to pass through the kubler Ross's stages of death (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance).