The Integrative Palliative Podcast

"She's a fighter" "We don't want her to give up" "Mr. Amos is comfort care now" Are these helpful words for families facing serious illness? Not so helpful? Should you avoid the words "death" and "dying" when talking to families?  Words matter. And when caring for palliative patients with cancer, heart disease and other life-limiting cond...

"Can I put coffee in my loved one's feeding tube?" "My dad won't eat and I don't know what to do" "She says food doesn't taste right anymore - what's going on??" We associate food with love so it can be very tough on a family when their seriously ill loved one can't, or doesn't want to, eat. This week I'll answer common question...

Patients, families, physicians and other clinicians are afraid of the "H word." Hospice got a bad rap and clinicians seem to get tongue tied when it is time to talk about it. But it doesn't have to be scary or depressing and it definitely shouldn't be seen as shameful or hope-stealing. In today's episode of The Integrative Palliative Podcast you will learn to speak confide...

You have got to meet Dr. Francis Yoo! He is a fascinating integrative physician with a huge tool box of skills. In his NYC practice he personally uses osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture, breath work and much more. Through his Whole Presence Laboratory he helps physicians achieve deep self-awareness and growth using diverse approaches such as enneagram work, Jungian psychology and guided self re...

One of the hardest things about being a physician, or other healthcare provider, is when we try our best to take great care of our patients but an adverse event happens anyway. We may not have a plan for managing the unpleasant feelings that show up and we may just try to power through. This is not the best approach. Listen to "When Bad Outcomes Happen to Good Doctors" to discover 6 step...

What is "healing presence?" Do you have it? Do you want it? How do you get it?  In this episode of The Integrative Palliative Podcast, Dr. Chiaramonte dispels myths about healing presence and gives practical tips for how to up your healing presence game. Follow Dr. Chiaramonte: @DrChiaramonte https://www.linkedin.com/in/deliachiaramonte/ http://www.tiipm.org Coping Courageously: A Heart-...

Dr. Saloni Sharma is our special guest this week and you don't want to miss her interview! Dr. Sharma is an integrative pain medicine specialist and she shares practical, evidence-supported lifestyle techniques to help your patients manage their pain. As the opiate crisis rages, all physicians need to learn adjuvant non-pharmacologic techniques to help patients improve function and wellbeing....

We are physicians but we're also humans. Because we're humans our "buttons" can get pushed by our encounters with patients and this can impact our clinical care, our rapport and even our mood. We may not even realize that this is happening! We can heal our patients (and ourselves) even when cure is not an option. If you'd like a free guide to help you incorporate integrati...

Everyone has patients or patients' family members that get angry. It doesn't feel good and you may not know exactly how to handle this challenging situation. In this episode you'll learn 5 tips for dealing effectively with angry patients or family members. You still won't like having angry patients, but you'll find them much easier to deal with once you know exactly what t...

Positive thinking is good, right? Well... sometimes. A regular gratitude ritual can help improve mood and wellbeing but imposing positivity on another person (or even on ourselves) can make people feel alone in their pain. In this episode we'll discuss the difference between gratitude and toxic positivity and share practical techniques to get the most out of positive thinking. Once you practi...

Wouldn't it be nice to win a teaching award? Many of us teach medical learners from medical students to residents to fellows to attendings. Teaching effectively makes us look good and it makes us feel good. Come learn 5 common teaching mistakes that you might be making, and how you can avoid them. Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’s Illness Without Losing...

Central sensitization is the brain's way of keeping us safe. The brain's "smoke alarm" becomes overly sensitive and makes us feel pain when there is no actual tissue damage. Basically the brain lies to us and this lie can reduce function and quality of life. Pain education and mind-body techniques can decrease central sensitization, calm the nervous system back down and reduce...

Special guest Lolly Forsythe-Chisolm, M.S. joins us to talk about her work as a mind-body specialist with an inpatient and outpatient palliative care team. She will share practical, easy to use techniques that we can offer to patients and use to support our own wellbeing. Once you hear from Lolly you will want a mind-body specialist on your patient care team! Visit www.tiipm.org to sign up for upc...

We all have an inner critic who whispers mean and nasty things to us - things that we would never say to a friend. The technique of identifying, naming and even drawing our inner critic is a powerful way to help our patients (and ourselves) to feel better.  www.tiipm.org Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’s Illness Without Losing Yourself is available here: www....

"I tried to meditate and it doesn't work for me" I've heard this from so many patients. But once they learn what meditation actually is they realize that it is an easy and valuable tool for wellbeing.  It helps them decrease their stress and feel more relaxed. It will do the same for you. If you like what you hear please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. To learn about upcoming...

You want to treat your patient’s pain and you don’t want to mess it up! Pain management can be complicated but it’s also simple once you understand the integrative palliative approach. Come learn what NOT to do when managing your patients' pain.  Come join our community! Sign up at www.tiipm.org Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’s Illness Without Losing Yo...

When your patient is in pain do you feel trapped between wanting to help and not wanting to over-prescribe opiates? There is a better way! Come learn the integrative palliative approach to managing pain so you can grow your skills and your confidence. Both your patients and your stress level will benefit. Come join our community! Sign up at www.tiipm.org Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide...

Anxious patients can be tough. You want to help but you’re not sure how. Is there anything that works other than benzodiazepines? Yes, yes and yes. Come learn the integrative approach to managing anxiety. Your patients will feel better, and you’ll feel better too. Plus here’s a secret: you can also use the techniques for yourself! Come join our community! Sign up at www.tiipm.org Coping Courageous...

No one looks forward to chemotherapy. It can work wonders, but it can also make people feel tired, nauseous and generally lousy. Come learn the integrative palliative approach to  helping your patients decrease the side effects of chemotherapy.  They will really appreciate you! Come join our community! Sign up at www.tiipm.org Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’...

Creative arts are not just for artists! If you don’t think that creative arts are for you, come let me change your mind. Tapping into the non-outcome oriented part of your brain is an underused stress management tool. Try some of these techniques yourself and then recommend them for your patients.  Come join our community! Sign up at www.tiipm.org Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Na...

In case no one has told you this lately, you are brave! Being a physician takes bravery and we don’t talk about this enough. We need to recognize and appreciate our bravery and then tell our peers that they are brave too! Come join our community! Sign up at www.tiipm.org Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’s Illness Without Losing Yourself is available here: www....

What is a MOLST? POLST? Advance Directive? Living will? We’ll straighten out the confusion and discuss how you can best help your patients to make complicated medical decisions and communicate them effectively. Come join our community! Sign up at www.tiipm.org Coping Courageously: A Heart-Centered Guide for Navigating a Loved One’s Illness Without Losing Yourself is available here: www.copingcoura...

How do you know if your patient has the capacity to make complex medical decisions? Sometimes it can be hard to tell. Do you need to consult psych? Can you determine it yourself? Come learn very specific questions to ask so that you can feel confident determining if you should be asking your patient, or their family member, to sign a consent or decide about code status.   Come join our community!...

Do you ever feel like the medical system is gaslighting you? “Thanks for being a healthcare hero – now go generate more RVUs!” We need to change the martyr physician culture that we all grew up in that taught us that we don’t need to eat or pee or sleep. We need to nurture ourselves out loud! We need to take our vacation proudly and support our peers when they prioritize their own wellness.  Let’s...

Welcome to the Integrative Palliative Podcast! We are a community of physicians and other healthcare providers passionate about whole person care for people with serious illness. In this episode we will  discuss how to approach a patient using an integrative palliative lens. You will learn the 5 steps to creating an integrative treatment plan for your patient so they can regain their quality of li...