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.