Abstract

In the mid-1900s, Hospice and Palliative care emerged as end-of-life medical services, offering comfort and support to dying patients and their families. These two services share common goals while also exhibiting distinct characteristics. However, many healthcare providers, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurses, lack comprehensive training and knowledge in these areas. In this paper, we aim to provide an extensive review of Hospice and Palliative care for internist and primary care physicians, covering various aspects such as indications and eligibility criteria, similarities, and differences between the two types of care, factors that might disqualify a patient from enrolling, and the role or application of these services during the COVID-19 pandemic.