Critical Care Time 38. Palliative Care in Critical Illness: Intentional & Compassionate Palliation with Dr. Anand Iyer
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Dec 2, 2024 Dr. Anand Iyer, a pulmonary and critical care physician at UAB, discusses the essential role of palliative care in critical settings. He emphasizes the importance of compassionate communication and understanding patient values during tough conversations. Dr. Iyer highlights the need to debunk misconceptions surrounding palliative care, demonstrating its relevance beyond end-of-life scenarios. He shares strategies to initiate early palliative interactions, offering insights into enhancing patient dignity and quality of life throughout serious respiratory illnesses.
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Origin Story
- Dr. Iyer's palliative care interest stemmed from a fellow's experience with a patient whose family wanted to "do right by mama".
- This shifted his research focus from pulmonary artery enlargement to palliative care implementation.
Palliative Care Defined
- Palliative care is comprehensive care for serious illness, appropriate at any stage, including symptom management and advanced care planning.
- It's often mistaken as only end-of-life care or hospice, but it's much broader.
Goals of Palliative Care
- Palliative care aims to cloak patients during difficult times, going beyond simply addressing the patient's code status.
- It includes broader communication, caregiver engagement, and bereavement support.