Report: Michigan Needs Better Palliative Care for Cancer Patients
The American Cancer Society wants Gov. Rick Snyder to create a commission to send recommendations to lawmakers.
Photo credit: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
A report says Michigan’s healthcare system does not do as well as other states in providing complete care for people with cancer.
An American Cancer Society report says Michigan doesn’t have the tools in place to meet the demand for palliative care. That means specialized medical care that focuses on all patient needs – from physical to emotional.
Andrew Schepers with the American Cancer Society says the organization wants Gov. Rick Snyder to create a commission to send recommendations to the Legislature… “To really make Michigan a state that is on the forefront of palliative care rather than kind of lagging behind everybody else,” he says.
“It’s an encompassing care that helps somebody get from a traumatic situation back to where they were before,” says Schepers.
Barry Cargill is with the Michigan Home Care and Hospice Association. He says this type of care is effective and cost-effective because it often keeps patients out of the hospital.
“It generally is a concern that this is a very important service for patients and in many cases it is just simply unfunded,” he says.
The report from the American Cancer Society says Michigan needs to increase patient education about palliative care. The society also wants to see the Michigan Legislature pass bills that would improve training for doctors and hospital staff.
