Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC) means that a person is living with two or more chronic conditions at the same time. Currently, 1 out of 3 adult Americans have MCCs and for persons 65 and older 4 out of 5 Medicare Beneficiaries and a growing number of children have MCCs. This is the largest patient population and users of healthcare resources accounting for 64% of all clinician visits, 70% of all inpatient stays, 83% of all prescriptions, 71% of all healthcare spending, and 93% of Medicare spending.

Palliative care is symptom management in persons with multiple chronic conditions. The focus is on quality of life and not death. Palliative care should be integrated into the routine management of symptomatic chronic conditions such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease and others. The effective management of symptoms prevents disease exacerbation, reduces hospitalization, maintains physical functioning, and improves quality of life.

Palliative care is a team-based approach of healthcare professionals who provide interdisciplinary care to meet the complex care needs of patients living with limited-life threatening conditions.

Managing symptomatic multiple chronic conditions, prevents escalation and worsening of the underlying conditions. Proactive interventions to reduce the burden of symptoms such as pain, depression, insomnia, shortness of breath and others improves quality of life and promotes the ability to engage in meaningful and important activities.

News and Updates for Healthcare Professionals

2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

Since 1980, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have translated scientific evidence into clinical practice guidelines with recommendations to improve cardiovascular health. These guidelines, which…
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Antiamyloid Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Alzheimer Disease: Emerging Issues in Neurology

With recent data demonstrating that lecanemab treatment can slow cognitive and functional decline in early symptomatic Alzheimer disease (AD), it is widely anticipated that this drug and potentially other monoclonal…
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Special Report: Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns 2023

The 2023 edition of our list features many first-time topics, and emphasis is on potential risks that could have the biggest impact on patients. The number one topic on this…
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Screen High-Risk Individuals for NAFLD, Urges Guidance

People at high risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), such as those with type 2 diabetes or medically complicated obesity, should be screened for advanced fibrosis, says new guidance…
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CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — United States, 2022

Pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care in the United States. Acute pain, a nearly universal experience, is a physiologic response to noxious stimuli that…
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Award Winning Groundbreaking Textbook

Order your copy of this groundbreaking and award-winning textbook. Integration of Palliative Care in Chronic Conditions: An Interdisciplinary Approach

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Cover of the book titled "Integration of Palliative Care in Chronic Conditions: An Interdisciplinary Approach" written by Kim Kuebler

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News and Updates for the Patient and Family

American Heart Association 8 Essential Healthy Lifestyle Habits for Longevity

Life’s Essential 8 are the key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association. Better cardiovascular health helps lower the risk for heart disease,…
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WHO highlights high cost of physical inactivity in first-ever global report

Almost 500 million people will develop heart disease, obesity, diabetes or other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to physical inactivity, between 2020 and 2030, costing US$ 27 billion annually, if governments…
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Improving Nutrition to Turn the Tide on Diet-Related Chronic Disease

March is National Nutrition Month, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is shining a spotlight on the importance of good nutrition and the big impact it has on improving…
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Johns Hopkins Lipitz Center Winter 2022 Newsletter

The Roger C. Lipitz Center for Integrated Health Care is pleased to share the newly released ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN CARE DELIVERY issue brief in this Winter 2022 Lipitz Quarterly…
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November Is National Diabetes Month

Prediabetes is a serious health condition affecting 88 million Americans—more than 1 in 3 people—and most are unaware they have it. People with prediabetes have higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that…
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Videos

Dr Kim Kuebler Implementing Palliative Care in Multiple Chronic Conditions in the U.S.

Dr Arlene Bierman MD, MS, Director of Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Dr Joanne Lynn MD, MA, MS, Director Center for Elder Care and Advanced Illness, Altarum Institute

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Latest Posts from Our Blog

U.S. Senate Defeats The Deadly Palliative Care Bill for The Third Time

Hospice supporters have been pushing for the Palliative Care and Hospice Education Training Act since 2017. Defeated for the 3rd time December 2022. The recent ProPublica and the New Yorker… Continue reading

Differentiating Palliative vs. Hospice Care

ATTRIBUTES PALLIATIVE CARE HOSPICE CARE/EOL Primary Objective To effectively manage symptomatic advanced conditions by reducing disease exacerbation, hospitalization and maintain physical functioning Goal Engage in Life To provide comfort of… Continue reading

Palliative Care: a Paradigm Shift

PREVENTATIVE – PROTECTIVE – REHABILITATIVE The World Health Organization, The US Department Of Health and Human Services and The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Move Palliative Care to… Continue reading

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