Jennie Ottinger "Waiting Room" 

Communication in palliative care

Palliative care clinicians of all disciplines often consider complex interactions that involve difficult discussions as "our speciality's procedure".  The topics we address with patients and families are entwined with emotion, complex concepts and needed coordination of many people and interventions.
Topics that we review here include:

• Advance care planning
  
• Clinical communication skills
  
• Speaking of prognosis and truth telling
• Listening