Innovative program sheds light on benefits of early palliative care
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - 09:30
in Health & Medicine
When faced with a long-term illness, patients often retreat or are left feeling hopeless, a response that can negatively impact one's prognosis and impair their quality of life. When coping measures are offered however, the opposite can hold true. Patients can learn to accept their illness, take control of the situation and plan for the future. The Northwestern Asthma-COPD Program is pioneering a new approach to the treatment of patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) that combines traditional care and palliative medicine. The forward-thinking approach is part of an emerging trend in medicine to bring palliative care into the equation earlier in order to improve disease management and enhance patient care.