INNOVATIVE MODELS OF CARE
Center to Advance Palliative Care
2006-2012 Serious illnesses, such as cancer, heart failure, emphysema, and others, can cause pain, other symptoms, and psychological distress. Palliative care is a relatively new specialty that helps patients with serious illness to achieve the best possible quality of life by relieving pain, symptoms, and stress. It is delivered by an interdisciplinary team of health professionals with special training and expertise.
The leading voice in palliative care is Diane E. Meier, MD, who directs the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), located in New York City. CAPC began in 1999 with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. CAPC provides health care professionals with the tools, training, and technical assistance necessary to start and sustain successful palliative care programs in hospitals and other health care settings.
Palliative care has been shown to improve health outcomes for seriously ill patients and reduce overall health care costs. Palliative care programs are now in 65 percent of all hospitals in the United States, and 90 percent of large hospitals, a 150 percent increase since 2000.
(Below) Diane E. Meier, MD, Director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care, works to improve access to high quality palliative care for people and families facing serious illness. “Patients and their families need to understand that palliative care is about relief from the stress and symptoms of a serious illness, and a team of providers will work with them to achieve the best possible quality of life.” Diane E. Meier, MDDirector
Center to Advance Palliative Care
Professor
Geriatrics and Internal Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center