Journal of palliative medicine
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Describe the etiology of pain among HF patients and examine the relationship between pain and QoL. ⋯ Pain is prevalent and persistent, due largely to non-cardiac causes. Although pain did not predict QOL, it was associated with depression, which did adversely affect QoL. Clinicians should screen for and treat both symptoms.
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The Center for Medicare Services (CMS) requires palliative care involvement for patients who receive a destination therapy ventricular assist device (VAD). Creative solutions are needed to meet this requirement in the context of limited palliative care resources. ⋯ Nurses with basic palliative care skills can conduct scripted preparedness planning conversations. These conversations are well received by patients, satisfy CMS requirements, and provide an alternative to full consults for resource-limited programs. Additional research is needed to compare outcomes between nurse visits and traditional consults.