Palliative care is a multifaceted, integrated approach to improving the quality of life of adults and paediatric patients, and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness such as COVID-19. The recommendation for PMB level of care for confirmed cases of COVID-19 is for patients presenting with severe disease. You can also see how your medical aid plan covers non-PMB palliative care by finding your scheme/plan in the menu.
Palliative care includes but not limited to:
- complex symptom management
- advance care planning or goals of care conversations
- complex discussions with patient, and more often with family:
– diagnoses and current/future care plans,
– when a patient’s condition deteriorates, or withdrawal of treatment decisions needs to be made
– family’s own (mental)health - integration of psychosocial support especially for families on the outside:
– isolation causing mayor distress and mental health issues with patients and families
– primary physicians do not have capacity to always keep loved ones updated or discuss when difficult decisions need to be made quickly
– bereavement support to families - Palliative care includes a multi-disciplinary team approach. The team may consist of doctors (GPs and specialists), psychologists, social workers, palliative care home nurses. Palliative care can be provided in different settings including:
– in the home (even if severe and patient so wishes e.g. frail elderly or people with dementia),
– long term care facilities,
– hospices,
– and in hospital including general ward, ICU and high care - CMS (Council of Medical Schemes) recommends the funding of palliative care. Where a multi-disciplinary team is involved in the treatment and care of COVID-19 patients, the primary provider should submit an initial treatment plan to the scheme for pre-authorisation and weekly updates to allow the scheme to make informed continued funding decisions.
View our other articles on Covid-19 and PMB Level of care or Covid-19 in general.
Source: This information is sourced directly from Council of Medical Schemes website, and their document titled PMB definition guideline: COVID-19 v5 and does not rely on our own independent research
Image: “coronavirus-covid-19” by Nursing Schools Near Me is licensed under CC BY 2.0
