Managing Neuropathic Pain in Pediatric Palliative Care (334)

Abstract

therapy in 2008. These data reflect the general sentiments of palliative care providers, that radiation oncologists often do not share the same goals of care with patients, their caregivers and families, and their palliative care multidisciplinary team. The purpose of this lecture is to review the common perspectives of practicing radiation oncologists. First, it is important to understand the fundamental principles of fractionated radiation therapy, as these principles are foundational to the perspective of most radiation oncologists. Other contributors, including radiation oncologists’ education/training, the typical workflow, and process structure of a radiation oncology clinic, and currently available reimbursement structures for radiation oncology also have a role in the decision-making of radiation oncologists. Once these factors are understood, it is possible to create strategies for successfully communicating with radiation oncologists. Successful interactions with radiation oncologists lead to palliative treatment that is rapid, effective in relieving pain and other symptoms, convenient, and surprisingly cost-effective for hospices and palliative care programs. This has been clearly demonstrated outside the United States, but now has also been proven to exist within the United States as well. The audience of this lecture will be expected to complete the activity with a solid understanding of basic radiation principles, allowing easy professional discussions of radiation concepts with radiation oncology colleagues. In addition, the learners will gain strategies to effectively communicate with oncologists, and will be better able to negotiate with oncologists on behalf of their patients.