Michelle Farnan Discusses the Challenges of Integrating Palliative Care

Michelle Farnan, RN, MSN, OCN, palliative care nurse coordinator, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, discusses the challenges of integrating palliative care into practice.

Farnan says one of the biggest challenges in integrating palliative care is that many families think that palliative care means end-of-life care. Also, some providers are afraid to put their patients in a palliative care program because they think it reflects poorly on them.

Palliative care professionals and physicians need to reach a middle ground. Palliative care can help patients achieve a greater quality of life as well as prepare them for the end of their life, if needed.