How can palliative care gain the respect it deserves?

Send us Fan MailPalliative care may be the Rodney Dangerfield of healthcare. More accurately, palliative care does get major respect from those who know its value when properly applied – but too few truly understand the power of this specialty.In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Melanie Marien, RPA-C – a nationally certified Physician Assistant and palliative care specialist – discusses how we may overcome challenges to make palliative care a routine part of treatment regimens.Melanie and Stan talk about persistent obstacles of distinguishing palliative care from hospice care in the minds of referrers, patients and families. Their discussion also includes her thoughts on educating referrers about starting palliative care early in the disease progression, the use of telehealth in furthering palliative care and how COVID-19 may have opened people’s eyes to the benefits palliative care can provide.A longtime practitioner of palliative care, Melanie currently runs her own healthcare consulting firm advocating for patients, caregivers and seamless care. During her career, she also has gained vast experience as the VP of Operations, Northeast Region for Aspire Health (a national palliative care specialty organization) and as the Director of Clinical Relations at Center for Hospice and Palliative Care in Buffalo, New York.