Addressing Barriers in Palliative Care for Rural and Underserved Communities
An article published in the American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book highlights that 32 million Americans living in rural areas face limited access to multidisciplinary cancer care, resulting in greater social and financial hardships, higher symptom burden, and increased cancer mortality. It explores strategies such as hub and spoke care delivery models, telehealth-enabled palliative care, and systematic assessment of social determinants of health to improve symptom management in these communities. The article also discusses how digital health tools and trained community health workers can support cancer care in low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the importance of tailoring interventions to local health care infrastructure and resources.