Health systems should empower their primary care physicians to deliver better palliative and end-of-life care

Health systems should empower their primary care physicians to deliver better palliative and end-of-life care 
Medscape - Family Medicine; by Edward L. Burns, MD, MA; 9/17/25 
Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a pivotal role in managing the overall well-being of their patients. However, when it comes to palliative and end-of-life care, many health systems do not train or empower their PCPs to manage this important part of their patients’ lives. ... By systematically training PCPs in palliative care principles and communication skills, health systems can simultaneously deliver significantly higher quality, patient-centered care that aligns with families’ values and wishes, while reducing unnecessary hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and aggressive interventions that may not align with patients’ wishes.