Increasing Access to Palliative Care for Oncology Patients

Approximately half of all cancer patients will eventually die of their disease and one-third of cancer deaths happen within six months of diagnosis. Palliative care outpatient clinics, inpatient consultation teams, palliative care units and hospices all play an integral role providing symptom control, psychosocial support and transition of care for patients with cancer and their families along the cancer care continuum. Less than half of National Cancer Institute cancer centers offer outpatient palliative care services and only 20% of centers have combined oncology-palliative care clinics. This session will discuss the steps taken by one institution toward successful integration of palliative care and oncology care.