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Summary
Dr. Ann Berger, a pioneer in the field of palliative care, discusses the importance of whole person care and the misconceptions surrounding palliative care. Palliative care is not just for end-of-life patients, but should be implemented from the time of diagnosis for anyone with a life-threatening illness. Dr. Berger emphasizes the need for personalized, integrative approaches to care that address physical, psychological, social, and spiritual symptoms. She also highlights the role of spirituality in healing and the development of the NIH HEALS measure to capture the spiritual component of care. Despite the proven benefits of palliative care, it is still not widely adopted, and Dr. Berger calls for better education and integration of whole person care in medical training.

Takeaways

• Palliative care should be implemented from the time of diagnosis for anyone with a life-threatening illness, not just for end-of-life patients.
• Whole person care is essential, addressing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual symptoms.
• Personalized, integrative approaches to care, such as acupuncture, mindfulness, and pet therapy, can improve quality of life for patients.
• Spirituality plays a crucial role in healing and should be integrated into healthcare practices.
• There is a need for better education and integration of whole-person care in medical training.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Palliative Care
06:12 Integrative Approaches in Palliative Care
29:02 The NIH HEALS Measure
36:53 Challenges and Barriers to Implementing Palliative Care

Resources

• Article: An assessment of meaning in life-threatening illness: development of the Healing Experience in All Life Stressors (HEALS)
• Reduce Work Place Stress 

Check out the book: "Healing and Cancer: A Guide to Whole Person Care"
Visit https://www.healingandcancerbook.com/ for more information.

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Visit Healing Works Foundation www.healingworksfoundation.org for more information.

Dr. Wayne Jonas is a board-certified physician and Dr. Alyssa McManamon is a triple-board certified hematologist/oncologist. The opinions expressed on this show are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of their places of employment, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the United States government. The opinions expressed on this podcast are meant for entertainment and education and should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition nor should they be used as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified, board-certified practicing clinician. Dr. Wayne Jonas and Dr. Alyssa McManamon have no relevant financial disclosures.