A Study on How does an interdisciplinary approach to palliative care benefit the palliative patient Assignment Sample

Outline of the topic

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In order to fully meet the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual requirements of patients with life-limiting diseases, an interdisciplinary approach to palliative care brings together healthcare specialists from several professions. This all-encompassing approach improves the level of care and quality of life for patients and their families, providing a more comprehensive and efficient network of support throughout the trying periods of terminal illness (WHO,2022).

Why this topic is important within palliative care and how it is implemented

The multidisciplinary approach to palliative care is extremely important because it acknowledges that people with terminal diseases need all-encompassing assistance that goes beyond simply medical care. These individuals frequently deal with a complicated interaction of emotional discomfort, psychological difficulties, spiritual demands, and physical symptoms. Collectively addressing these issues can considerably raise their quality of life and provide compassionate end-of-life care. The multidisciplinary method guarantees a comprehensive treatment plan by bringing together a group of medical experts from diverse fields, including medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, chaplaincy, and more (National,2018). Nurses provide direct care and support, while medical specialists treat symptoms and suffering. Social workers help with practical issues including setting up home care services and dealing with money worries. Counsellors and psychologists provide emotional support to patients and families, assisting them in navigating sorrow, sadness, and anxiety. Spiritual advisers or chaplains assist in resolving existential concerns and offering comfort to people looking for spiritual direction(Bruera,2020).

Regular multidisciplinary team meetings where specialists debate and customise treatment plans to each patient's particular requirements are necessary for the effective execution of this strategy. The consideration of all facets of a patient's wellbeing is ensured via collaborative decision-making. For instance, a patient with severe pain could also need assistance with daily tasks (given by a nurse or carer), mental support to deal with the misery (supplied by a psychologist), and modifications to their drug regimen (directed by a doctor) (Harding,2021). Interdisciplinary cooperation also enhances the continuity of care by improving team member communication. Interdisciplinarity communication is smooth, minimising the possibility of missing or inconsistent interventions. The stress on patients and their families, who may otherwise have to juggle several care providers and services on their own, is reduced as a result of this holistic approach. Patients with complicated demands, such as those who have cancer, severe organ failure, or neurological diseases, benefit the most from the multidisciplinary approach. For instance, a patient with terminal cancer could need pain relief, psychological therapy to deal with worry, social support to deal with carer fatigue, and spiritual instruction to accept death(Bruera,2014).

Potential barriers or issues of concern within the topic

While the multidisciplinary approach to palliative care has many advantages, there are a number of possible obstacles and problems that need to be resolved if it is to be implemented and used effectively.

Communication and Coordination Challenges

Various disciplines might have fluctuating correspondence styles and phrasings, prompting errors. Deficient correspondence among colleagues can bring about divided care and disconnected suggestions. Ordinary group gatherings and normalized correspondence conventions are fundamental to beating these difficulties.

Hierarchy and Power Dynamics

Progressive designs inside medical care groups can restrain open conversations and contributions from all individuals. This can sabotage the cooperative idea of interdisciplinary consideration. Establishing a climate where each colleague's ability is esteemed and urged is pivotal to defeating power elements(Smith,2017).

Time and Workload Constraints

Interdisciplinary consideration demands extra investment for group gatherings, care arranging, and coordination. Medical care experts are frequently troubled with weighty jobs, making it trying to allot adequate time for cooperation. Sufficient assets and staffing are important to guarantee that interdisciplinary consideration doesn't turn into an additional stressor.

Lack of Training

Medical services experts may not be enough prepared for interdisciplinary coordinated efforts. This can bring about troubles in seeing each other's jobs and commitments. Preparing programs that emphasize viable correspondence, cooperation, and understanding the jobs of various disciplines can assist in overcoming this issue(Ahles,2015).

Cultural and Ethical Differences

Patients and families come from different social and strict foundations, which can influence their inclinations for care. Medical services experts should be delicate to these distinctions and guarantee that care plans line up with patients' qualities and convictions.

Resistance to Change

Some medical services experts may be impervious to taking on an interdisciplinary methodology because of conventional jobs and practices. Conquering this obstruction requires a change in hierarchical culture and initiative help for the advantages of cooperative consideration.

Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns

Sharing patient data across disciplines necessitates careful consideration of privacy and confidentiality, which raises a number of issues. Healthcare teams must follow stringent guidelines to safeguard patient information while making sure that all team members have access to the data they need.

Funding and reimbursement issues

In certain healthcare systems, the methods of reimbursement may not be able to fully fund multidisciplinary treatment. This may deter healthcare institutions from allocating the funds required for productive collaboration.

Potential benefits to palliative patients related to the topic

Personal reflection

For me it has been an eye-opening experience to investigate the multidisciplinary approach to palliative care, which has highlighted the tremendous benefits of comprehensive and team-based treatment for patients and their families. My major takeaway from this investigation is an understanding of the complexity of healthcare and the critical role that multidisciplinary cooperation plays in meeting challenging patient requirements. The main lesson I learned was that healthcare goes beyond only medicine. Patients with terminal diseases are complex persons with complex emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual components; they are not just bodies to be treated. The multidisciplinary approach recognises this complexity by putting together a group of experts from many fields who work together to offer complete treatment. This strongly aligns with the fundamental principle of patient-centred care, which places hole person and their unique circumstances. My future professional practise will be considerably influenced by what I have learned. I'm dedicated to providing care as a healthcare professional that goes beyond identifying and treating illnesses. I now recognise the value of working together with experts from diverse fields to make sure that no element of a patient's wellbeing is disregarded. Fostering open communication, paying attention to team members' thoughts, and adopting a shared decision-making approach that engages patients and their families are all necessary to achieve this. Additionally, this education highlights the need of lifelong learning and professional growth. It will be crucial to keep up with the most recent research, recommendations, and practises in palliative care and multidisciplinary collaboration because the healthcare industry is always changing. By continuing my education, I'll be able to give the greatest treatment possible. Additionally, being aware of the obstacles and difficulties related to multidisciplinary treatment has given me a proactive outlook. I can help create a culture where cooperation thrives, hierarchy is reduced, and patients' various needs are successfully served by anticipating and overcoming these barriers (Abernethy,2013)

Conclusion

The effectiveness of collaborative, all-encompassing treatment is demonstrated by the multidisciplinary approach to palliative care. This method improves quality of life, symptom management, and emotional well-being by bringing together a variety of clinicians to meet the needs of patients on a physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual level. The advantages of this strategy from improved end-of-life planning to comprehensive support underline its indispensable role in providing patients and their families with compassionate and effective care during life's most trying times, despite potential obstacles like communication gaps and resistance to .

References

• World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). National cancer control programmes: policies and managerial guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization.
• National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care. (2018). Clinical practice guidelines for quality palliative care. Retrieved from https://www.nationalcoalitionhpc.org/ncp/
• Bruera, E., & Hui, D. (2020). Integrating supportive and palliative care in the trajectory of cancer: establishing goals and models of care. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 28(25), 4013-4017.
• Selman, L., & Harding, R. (2021). Integrating palliative care in long-term care facilities across Europe (PACE): protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial of the 'PACE Steps to Success' intervention in seven countries. BMC Palliative Care, 10(1), 1-9.
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• Zimmermann, C., Swami, N., Krzyzanowska, M., Hannon, B., Leighl, N., Oza, A., ... & Rodin, G. (2014). Early palliative care for patients with advanced cancer: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 383(9930), 1721-1730.
• National Cancer Institute. (2021). Palliative care in cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/advanced-cancer/care-choices/palliative-care
• Quill, T. E., & Abernethy, A. P. (2013). Generalist plus specialist palliative care—creating a more sustainable model. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(13), 1173-1175.