Quality palliative care in long-term care settings.

It is paramount that physicians and midlevel practitioners who care for residents in long-term care facilities be able to provide high-quality comfort care to their patients, the majority of whom are frail and suffering from chronic and progressive diseases. Physicians must be knowledgeable in the assessment, prevention, and relief of patients' physical, emotional, and spiritual distress, as well as develop appropriate attitudes, knowledge, and skills to care for patients who are in the last years of life. The provision of high-quality palliative care is the essence of long-term care medicine.

Effective pain management in the long-term care setting.

It is essential that physicians and midlevel practitioners who care for residents in long-term care facilities be proficient in the recognition, assessment, and treatment of chronic pain. A holistic approach to the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual components of a resident's total pain and distress must be integrated into the palliative aspects of long-term care medicine. Furthermore, all practitioners must recognize and effectively manage, prevent, and/or minimize the occurrence of acute pain, breakthrough pain, incidental pain, and disturbance pain that frequently are superimposed on a resident's chronic pain.

Quality palliative care in long-term care settings.

It is paramount that physicians and midlevel practitioners who care for residents in long-term care facilities be able to provide high-quality comfort care to their patients, the majority of whom are frail and suffering from chronic and progressive diseases. Physicians must be knowledgeable in the assessment, prevention, and relief of patients' physical, emotional, and spiritual distress, as well as develop appropriate attitudes, knowledge, and skills to care for patients who are in the last years of life. The provision of high-quality palliative care is the essence of long-term care medicine.