Top Ten Tips Palliative Clinicians Should Know About Rural Palliative Care in the United States.
Jack KimballChamika Hawkins-TaylorAnne AndersonDebra Gay AndersonMary Lou Clark FornehedPatricia JustisNasreen LalaniSarah MollmanBrandi PravecekJulie RiceJanelle ShearerDillon SteinSalom M TeshaleMarie A BakitasPublished in: Journal of palliative medicine (2024)
Palliative care improves outcomes, yet rural residents often lack adequate and equitable access. This study provides practical tips to address palliative care (PC)-related challenges in rural communities. Strategies include engaging trusted community partners, addressing cultural factors, improving pediatric care, utilizing telehealth, networking with rural teams including caregivers, and expanding roles for nurses and advanced practice providers. Despite complex barriers to access, providers can tailor PC to be patient-centered, respect local values, and bridge gaps. The "Top 10" format emphasizes the relevant issues to enable clinicians to provide optimal care for people from rural areas.