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Did you know how hospice and palliative care in the United States became an important part of the medical system?
Palliative care is a type of health care that focuses on relieving the pain and symptoms of terminally ill patients and pays attention to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life.
In the United States, the concept of hospice and palliative care evolved gradually and was integrated with many professional services in the mainstream medical system. By focusing on comfort and quality of life, hospice becomes more than just a medical option, it becomes an integral part of the healthcare system.
The definition and services of palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized medical service designed for patients whose life expectancy is six months or less. According to U.S. health insurance regulations, doctors need to make predictions about the patient's health status before they can activate the benefits related to palliative care. This service includes support from a multidisciplinary medical team and can be provided in the patient's home, long-term care facility or hospital.
The goal of hospice and palliative care is to prioritize comfort, quality of life and the wishes of the individual.
This form of medical care is not designed to diagnose or treat disease, but rather focuses on relieving the patient's pain and symptoms while taking into account the needs of the patient's family. The philosophy of hospice and palliative care emphasizes that the patient's life goals must be reflected throughout the entire care process.
The historical evolution of palliative care
The beginnings of palliative care can be traced back to Europe in the 11th century, when inns and churches became places of refuge for patients. The rise of the hospice movement in the UK began in the mid-20th century. The modern hospice and palliative care concept founded by Dame Cicely Saunders has had a significant impact on global medical care. Her work has made hospice and palliative care key to the medical community's response to terminally ill patients.
Choosing hospice and palliative care means patients focus on quality of life rather than just prolonging it.
Over time, hospice and palliative care policies in the United States expanded and became a formal Medicare benefit in 1986, supporting countless patients in need. Since then, hospice and palliative care has ceased to be a niche option and has become an important part of the entire medical system.
The influence and future prospects of palliative care
According to recent reports, more and more patients are choosing hospice and palliative care as a form of care. This not only reflects the importance patients place on comfort and dignity, but also demonstrates society's changing views on death and illness. In various professional settings, medical personnel's awareness of palliative care is gradually increasing, and the integration of the medical system is also accelerating.
Hospice and palliative care has given birth to a new concept of care that focuses on the holistic needs faced by patients and their families.
In the future, we can expect hospice and palliative care to play a more critical role in the medical system, and the needs of patients and families will become the priority of medical services.
Culture and the global impact of palliative care
With the popularity of palliative care, the understanding of death in different cultural backgrounds is also continuing to change. Outside the United States, the concept of hospice and palliative care may need to cater to local cultural characteristics, which has prompted research on hospice and palliative care models worldwide.
The development of hospice and palliative care in Africa and other regions demonstrates the integration of this care model and its connection with the needs of local communities. More and more countries, whether in culture or policy, are beginning to attach importance to palliative care as an important medical service channel.
However, in some areas, hesitation about death, unfamiliarity with medical care, and a lack of professional training in caring for terminally ill patients are still obstacles to the development of palliative care.
All these changes make us think, in the face of the end of life, how should we better understand, accept and promote the concept and practice of palliative care?
