Conversations In Complexity

Jeff Myers, in this interview with Ross Upshur, discusses the evolution of palliative care and the evidence that has accumulated outlining its impact on outcomes for patients, families, and systems. With early efficacy studies having focused on end-of-life experiences for patients with cancer, strong evidence now clearly delineates a role for palliative care from the time of diagnosis for any person with serious illness and their family. Serious illnesses are those that are incurable and progressive and include but not limited to heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative diseases, dementia, frailty as well as metastatic cancer. No longer should palliative care be thought of as the alternative to disease-focused care, it is as an added layer of support that must be provided alongside disease-focused care. This expansion of relevance raises several questions and creates both opportunities and challenges for the growing discipline. What is it about the palliative care approach that makes su