The Palliative Care Psychiatry Program at The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice

There are multiple complex medical and psychosocial issues faced at the end of life. These issues constitute a major impact on the individual as well as family members, and often result in financial costs for these families, as well as society. These issues create both a substantial burden to and a tremendous opportunity for our healthcare system as a whole. Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life throughout an illness and bereavement experience, so that patients and families can realize their full potential to live, even when someone is dying. The need for psychiatrists to work with patients and families living with life-limiting illnesses in support of this aim has never been greater. The Palliative Care Psychiatry Programs at San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine, which will be presented here, are setting a new standard of whole-person care for dying patients and their families.