Part 2 - Guidance for Palliative, Hospice and Bereavement Care for COVID-19 and other Patients facing Life-Threatening Illness in Hospitals

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BACKGROUND

One of the challenges and realities posed by the current health emergency posed by COVID-19 is the speed at how patients can get into severe conditions and eventually reach death. Most health professionals do not have adequate knowledge and capacity on how to prepare and communicate with patients and their families, who are facing the uncertain course of this illness. There are clinical measures and holistic interventions that can be done for the provision of palliative care services, most especially for patients in the severe and refractory stages of the infection.

Using our current knowledge in palliative care, we want to support our colleagues in hospitals and communities in managing patients and their families who need palliative, hospice and bereavement care. This provisional guidance document was developed by the Philippine Society of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (PSHPM) in collaboration with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Council of the Philippines (Hospice Philippines) and the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP).