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Cardiac Palliative Medicine

  • Nonpharmacologic Therapy: Surgery, Ventricular Assist Devices, Biventricular Pacing, and Exercise (A Hasan, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Heart Failure Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Heart failure is an illness with high morbidity and mortality that affects 5.7 million Americans. As advanced heart therapies become more prevalent care for patients and families is becoming more complex. The American Heart Association has released a policy statement recommending continuous, high-quality access to palliative care for all patients with heart failure, and the Center for Medicare Services requires palliative care involvement in mechanical circulatory support teams.

Recent Findings

The National Quality Forum developed eight domains of palliative care that are required for high-quality delivery of comprehensive palliative care. This article assesses each domain and how it pertains to evolving care of patients with advanced heart failure.

Summary

Leadership from heart failure teams should review the domains of palliative care to ensure they are improving primary palliative care skills as well as identifying areas needed to improve funding so that patients have access to comprehensive specialty level palliative care.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ohio State University Ross Heart Hospital, McCampbell Hall, 5th Floor, 1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Todd Barrett

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  1. Todd Barrett
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Correspondence to Todd Barrett.

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Todd Barrett declares no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Nonpharmacologic Therapy: Surgery, Ventricular Assist Devices, Biventricular Pacing, and Exercise

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Barrett, T. Cardiac Palliative Medicine. Curr Heart Fail Rep 14, 428–433 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-017-0357-5

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