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In her work with terminally ill patients, Dr. Cicely Saunders
emphasizes the need for continued research and education to improve
the quality of patient care. Her commitment to maintaining
detailed records of the efficacy of various pain and symptom control
techniques allowed her to determine which treatments actually worked
and which didn't. The result of her research let to tremendous improvements
in her patients quality of life.
Dr. Saunders also emphasizes the importance of continued education
concerning the management of terminal illness and the scope and
availability of hospice services, not only for hospice staff but also
for other health care professionals, patients, family members, and the
community. Educating other professionals about pain and symptom
control is crucial because it contributes to better management of
dying patients, whether or not those patients receive terminal care
from an official hospice program. Educating patients, family
members, and the community about hospice-related issues contributes to
better understanding of the dying process and decreases fear for a
subject usually left unspoken. As educated community results in
increased interest in hospice care, more effective use of hospice
services, and broader support for hospice concepts of care.
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