Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Caring for People with Postintensive Care Syndrome
An article published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, this article outlines how palliative care clinicians can better support patients and families affected by post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), a condition impacting more than half of ICU survivors. PICS includes lasting physical, psychological, cognitive, and spiritual challenges that may persist long after hospitalization, with similar effects seen in caregivers (PICS-F). An interdisciplinary team presents ten practical recommendations, including early rehabilitation, mental health screening, caregiver support, advance care planning, and spiritual care. The authors emphasize integrating palliative care early and longitudinally to reduce suffering, improve quality of life, and support recovery throughout the post-ICU care continuum.