The primary care physician and palliative care.

Palliative care is about total patient care, management of disabling and debilitating symptoms, and the role of the primary care physician. As physicians, we must understand who, what, when, how, and where to institute, or refer patients for palliative care. Who? Any patient needing assistance with the control of physical and nonphysical symptoms can benefit from palliative care. What? An interdisciplinary team coordinating care planning of the patient. When? The earlier in the disease process the patient is referred, the sooner symptom control can be maximally achieved. How? The primary care physician makes the initial referral to the palliative care physician or team. Where? All hospices should have a palliative care physician or consultant. This article provides a broad overview of palliative care management and incurable illnesses.