Rationale and Resources to Accelerate Advanced Practice Palliative Care Competency

Palliative care improves communication, symptom control, and support for patients and their families, resulting in an improved quality of life and survival outcomes.¹  The concept of palliative care has been evolving over time; traditionally limited to an oncology population, palliative care is now recommended for all patients living with serious or life-limiting illness.¹  Palliative care can be used to anticipate, prevent, and manage physical, psychological, social, and spiritual suffering and can be delivered in any care setting to optimize quality of life of patients, families, and care providers.¹ 

As the proportion of older persons in the United States increases, patients with multimorbidity, chronic, and complex health conditions are becoming more common at all levels of care in the health system. In times of both acute and critical illness, stress and vulnerabilities for patients and their families are amplified. Consequently, acute and critical care units, including emergency departments,...