| Abstract: |
(from the chapter) The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has undertaken a series of reports which have had a profound effect on the quality of US healthcare. Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century was the first of a series of reports which have addressed improving care of both physical and mental disorders. In 2007, the IOM published a report which examined the psychological, behavioral, and social problems that occur with serious illness. While the report focuses on cancer, the recommendations from the report Cancer care for the whole patient: Meeting psychosocial needs are relevant to the care of patients with other serious and complex medical conditions. The report concludes that to fail to address psychosocial needs of patients being treated for cancer today is to give less than quality care. The report states that a new standard of quality care now exists which requires psychosocial care be integrated into routine cancer care and treatment. The committee concluded that attending to psychosocial needs should be an integral part of quality cancer care. All components of the health care system that are involved in cancer care should explicitly incorporate attention to psychosocial needs in their policies, practices and standards addressing clinical health care. These policies, practices and standards should be aimed at ensuring the provision of psychosocial health services to all patients who need them. This chapter discusses the components of this report. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved). |
