Interactive collaborative consultation model in end-of-life care

With interactive communication becoming an engaging and accessible venue, t he specialized field of end-of-life care could greatly benefit by utilizing the Internet to ensure comprehensive palliative care for many underserved areas worldwide. Interactive communication can enhance the care of patients wit advanced disease and their families by providing practitioners with cu rrent research-based information to empower their clinical decision-making. A collaborative consultative Internet relationship can support practitione rs in providing comprehensive palliative interventions for their patients i n a timely manner. This paper describes the development of the interactive collaborative consultation model and its demonstration between a rural pall iative care nurse practitioner and an urban medical research physician. Exp ert consultation for individual patients through the Internet can help impr ove access to palliative consultation and, ultimately, enhance the care of many dying persons living with underserved or remote areas worldwide. J Pai n Symptom Manage 2000;20:202-209. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 20 00.