How Providers Can Develop a Culture of Integrative Palliative Care

How Providers Can Develop a Culture of Integrative Palliative Care

Palliative Care News

November 29, 2023

Integrative palliative care is growing popular among patients as well as providers seeking non-pharmacological methods of controlling symptoms and improving quality of life. These types of programs involve a range of complementary therapies, including aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture, dietary changes and mindfulness-based treatments, among others. The evidence base for these therapies has been growing in recent years, Leila Kozak, director of the Integrative Palliative Care Institute, said at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Annual Leadership Conference. “Integrated palliative care is patient-centered care that recognizes that pharmacological interventions are extremely useful, but sometimes can also produce overwhelming side effects,” Kozak said. “By using integrative therapies along with conventional pharmacological interventions, we can frequently decrease the dosage of drugs, decreasing side effects and providing a higher quality of life.”