What is "Palliative Care" and when is it time to choose it?

"So... It's Cancer."

[00:03] I. Intro and hello

[02:07] II. Guest - Farhan Shams, MD. Geriatrician & Palliative Care specialist

[02:49] III. What are Goals of Care?

[05:38] IV. What is Palliative Care?

[18:01] V. Who comprises a Palliative Care team, and what are their roles?

[31:00] Expectations, communication, and understanding where the patient is coming from.

[43:08] Change is the only constant in life

[47:04] Futility

[48:45] Closing

Key takeaways:

-- Palliative Care is a subspecialty and a team of professionals dedicated to improving the overall experience of a patient, family, and friends throughout the critically difficult moments of patient succumbing to disease.

-- Comprised of a physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist, social worker, and chaplain; all specialized and with a professional focus in the field.

-- Critical to establish "what are the goals of our treatment" and to ask "why are we doing what we are doing?"

--Understanding, communication, expectations, hope, reality, and process.

--Grief

--A Palliative Care doctor is a "Life Coach" for the end-of-life process