While a critical service for patients with serious illnesses, palliative care is vastly underutilized nationwide. Providers have gotten creative in their efforts to improve utilization, with some incorporating pets into nursing visits with patients.
Lacking public awareness and patient misconceptions are among the leading causes for lagging palliative care utilization. Many patients and families don’t fully understand the nature of these services and their benefits, often conflating palliative care with hospice.
Pets can be a bridge to building patient trust in palliative care programs, according to Michael Fratkin, CMO of ResolutionCare, a Vynca company.
Read more @ Hospice News