Rural palliative care

Abstract

Providing palliative care to persons living in rural areas across the globe presents significant barriers including: transportation, geographical and economic challenges, and often a lack of local clinicians with expertise and resources to provide complex palliative care services. Strategies are being designed and successfully implemented to meet the challenges of rural palliative care, including telehealth, phone-based care, specially trained lay community workers, and academic-community partnerships.

Models of Integration of Specialized Palliative Care with Oncology

“…Telehealth palliative care is convenient for both patients and caregivers, providing them with seamless care and promoting their independence [ 61 •]; it is also a promising model for patients living in rural and geographically remote locations where access to in-person care is limited [ 62 – 64 ]. In low- and middle-income countries, where infrastructure and financial constraints are barriers to accessing both cancer treatments and palliative care, telehealth may facilitate access in a cost-effective manner [ 65 , 66 ].…”

Developing and Testing the Feasibility of a Culturally Based Tele-Palliative Care Consult Based on the Cultural Values and Preferences of Southern, Rural African American and White Community Members: A Program by and for the Community

“…18 The lack of PC services in rural settings is evident in the lack of guidance by national organizations to address the unique challenges and barriers faced by rural patients. 19 The clinical guidelines on quality PC from the National Consensus Project 20 did not contain the term ''rural'' through the first three editions, nor did they address how these standards should be applied in rural settings. 21 Geographic inequities in access to PC are expected to rise as the rural population ages and the demand for PC increases.…”