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Care of the Dying Patient

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Family Medicine

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Abstract

In contrast to the numerous maladies described elsewhere in this textbook, successful care of the dying patient is not measured in terms of convalescence but rather in achievement of a “good death.” While the circumstances of death among the seriously ill in US hospitals are well defined – a high prevalence of pain and frequency of invasive procedures – the characteristics of a “good death” vary between patient, family, and provider [1, 2]. Frequently cited characteristics of a “good death” include control of severe pain, reduction of stress and anxiety, provider compassion, and the perceived knowledge and expertise of the physician [3]. However, patients with terminal conditions often report a sense of abandonment by their primary provider [4]. Increased end-of-life education among family physicians is critical in shifting patient deaths out of the hospital and into the comforts of home in effort to improve end-of-life care [5].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University Park Regional Campus, 476 Rolling Ridge Drive, Suite 101, State College, PA, 16801, USA

    Franklin J. Berkey

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  1. Franklin J. Berkey
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Correspondence to Franklin J. Berkey .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

    Paul M. Paulman

  2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

    Robert B. Taylor

  3. Department of Family Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

    Audrey A. Paulman

  4. Department of Family Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

    Laeth S. Nasir

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Berkey, F.J. (2017). Care of the Dying Patient. In: Paulman, P., Taylor, R., Paulman, A., Nasir, L. (eds) Family Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04414-9_69

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04414-9_69

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-04413-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-04414-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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