Health Research

Apr 1 2008

Kaiser Permanente Colorado Doctor Details Palliative Care Research in Podcast

Kaiser Permanente Colorado's chief of palliative care, Dan Johnson, MD, detailed a recent Kaiser Permanente research study about his specialty in a recent podcast.

The study showed that hospital-based palliative care programs – which emphasize team-based supportive care for patients with advanced illness – result in improved quality of care including higher patient satisfaction, improved communication, and fewer Intensive Care Unit admissions.

Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for patients with advanced illnesses by emphasizing communication, managing pain and other symptoms, and addressing psychological, social, and spiritual needs.

Dr. Johnson also is director of the Life Quality Institute, a Denver-based nonprofit organization that focuses on palliative care.

For more, listen to this Kaiser Permanente podcast.