The value of palliative care.

Palliative care is an essential component of care delivery models designed to address healthcare reform mandates. However, even after years of existence, these services continue to be unknown, underutilized, and/or misunderstood. Often only associated with care at the end of life or confused with hospice, interdisciplinary palliative care teams provide medical care coordination for patients' severe, complex, and/or chronic conditions, longer-than-anticipated length of stay, and/or psychosocial difficulties, regardless of age or prognosis. Organizations that are developing population health initiatives should consider pursuing a strategy incorporating palliative care. The palliative care process enhances patient satisfaction, quality of care, and outcomes while reducing costs.