Pharmaceutical Care of Terminally Ill Patients

Abstract

Care of patients with advanced, irreversible disease is multimodal but usually has a major pharmacological component. The development of pharmaceutical services to support the care of patients with terminal disease is discussed. The evolution of the modem hospice movement is described as is the documentation of hospice pharmaceutical services. The interdisciplinary team that normally provides such care is described. Responsibilities of pharmacists in providing care to terminally ill patients are discussed and hospice pharmaceutical care is defined including a position description for a hospice pharmacist. Principles of drug therapy in the management or pain are provided and other symptoms commonly seen in terminal care are listed. Case studies in pharmaceutical care of pain in terminally ill patients are presented. Data on hospice pharmaceutical services provided in the United States are summarized and references useful to pharmacists providing such care are listed.