1: Waiting for the Paradigm Shift.

Dr. Rader, in his expert commentary on this fine intervention, suggests that bringing palliative care to primary care is not so much evidence of the value of palliative care, as it is of the failings of the current medical model. He takes this opportunity to expound on the ways in which patients would be better served if medicine was different-- I do not disagree. However, in his arguing for the necessity of a medical paradigm shift, I believe Dr. Rader ignores two things. First, that until that shift happens, there are patients whose (physical, emotional, spiritual) suffering we aren't adequately addressing. They shouldn't need to wait until we professionals clean house to benefit from the principles of palliative care. And second, perhaps palliative care nurses in primary care aren't the "wrong solution" but, as they educate patients and fellow providers alike, a jumping off point for the beginning of the right one?

Jaime Hensel, RN, Friday, December 14, 2012 11:46 am| University; Nurse

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