Palliative Care Challenges and Solutions in Rural U.S. Communities


  • Abstract

    Palliative care (PC) is interdisciplinary care to increase the comfort and quality of life for patients with serious illness, including providing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual care for patients and their caregivers. Rural patients face unique challenges PC, including traveling long distances to access care, lack of transportation, lack of PC health care professionals and resources, limited availability of PC, and cultural and social differences that may affect care. This study sought to describe the availability of PC services in rural communities compared to urban communities and identify novel solutions for providing this essential care to rural communities. This mix-methods study included an analysis of two surveys and qualitative interviews with administrators of small, rural hospitals that offered PC services.


  • Authors:

    Oster NV, Baldwin LM, Justis P, Marchand L, Shearer J, Weng K, Patterson DG

  • Journal/Publisher:

    WWAMI Rural Health Research Center

  • Edition:

    Sep 2024.

  • Documents:

    Policy Brief

  • Citation:

    Oster NV, Baldwin LM, Justis P, Marchand L, Shearer J, Weng K, Patterson DG. Palliative Care Challenges and Solutions in Rural U.S. Communities. Policy Brief. WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, University of Washington; Sep 2024.