Some Facts about Palliative Care

Board certified in hospice and palliative care with the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Khalid Mahmoud Shirif obtained his doctor of medicine at the University of Minnesota in 1997. Dr. Khalid Mahmoud Shirif acquired experience in general surgery through residency training at several institutions. Currently, Dr. Khalid Shirif serves as a medical director with his palliative care center Traditions Hospice in Mesa, Arizona, where he provides care for terminally ill patients.

Palliative care, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is an approach that centers on improving the quality of life of patients and their families who are faced with problems that emanate from the patient's life-threatening illness. Palliative care providers achieve this through early identification, assessment, and treatment of problems that can or already do result from the illness (such as pain). Aside from addressing physical symptoms like pain, palliative care also assesses physically elusive symptoms such as psychosocial stress. Healthcare providers who specialize in palliative care are proficient in communicating with patients and their families to ensure that the care they receive is in line with their goals and wishes.

The goal of palliative care is not to extend a patient's life. Instead, it focuses on actively supporting the patient with attainable comfort before they die. Since it improves the patient's quality of life, it may have a positive influence on the course of the illness. It can also be done along with other therapies (such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy) that intend to prolong the patient's life or restore them to health.

ACS Continues Supporting Surgical Patients by Joining SCC

Dr. Khalid Shirif splits his time between leading several Arizona medical operations, such as Vanguard Physician Group and Anthem Hospice, where he serves as medical director. Dedicated to staying abreast of changes in the field, Dr. Khalid Shirif is double board-certified in general surgery and hospice and palliative care by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Since its founding in 1913, the ACS has been working toward improving the quality of care for surgical patients. To this end, the organization announced in June 2020 that it is a founding member of the Surgical Care Coalition (SCC). This group will work with Congress to improve the quality of life for surgical patients, along with protecting them and ensuring they have good access to surgical care. It would also work on stopping the planned Medicare cuts that would reduce the timely delivery of and access to quality surgical services.

The ACS has been strongly opposed to these proposed cuts since they were first announced. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would implement a reduction in surgical care payments by January 2021, but the ACS hopes that it, along with the SCC’s other 11 founding members, can encourage Congress to prevent these cuts. Together, the group has already found that surgeons are facing serious financial distress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and these cuts combined with such distress could create instability in the healthcare system. 

Paying for Hospice Services with Medicare

With a medical degree from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Khalid Mahmoud Shirif is experienced in providing hospice and palliative care services. Dr. Khalid Shirif is the owner and medical director of two Mesa, Arizona hospice centers that provide end-of-life care.

Hospice care expenses can be covered by Medicare in certain circumstances. The patient must qualify for Medicare Part A, which covers many types of long-term care. The patient must receive a terminal diagnosis from their physician that estimates less than six months to live. Furthermore, the patient must only accept palliative medical treatment and forgo curative care.

If the previous conditions are met, the patient or his/her legal guardian must sign a legal document attesting the desire to end curative treatment. If the patient receives care in a Medicare-approved facility, they will not be responsible for any costs. Housing costs are not covered for patients who receive hospice care where they normally reside.

Key Principles of Palliative Care

Prior to opening Anthem Hospice, Dr. Khalid Shirif served as the medical director of several other end-of-life care programs in Mesa, Arizona. Dr. Khalid Shirif holds American College of Surgeon board certifications in, general surgery, and palliative care.

The decision to enter palliative care can be emotionally difficult for patients and their families. Palliative care providers follow several principles to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. This includes the following concepts that are common to all end-of-life care:

Autonomy: Effective palliative care is patient-focused and considers the patient and their families’ preferences, cultural and religious beliefs, and end-of-life wishes. Patients can also make important decisions regarding their care.

Holistic: Palliative care goes beyond treating the disease and managing physical symptoms. It often also includes mental health and emotional support, spiritual counseling, and assistance for close family members.

Contextualization: Since palliative care can begin at any point during the course of a life-threatening illness, it is essential that care practices accurately reflect the patient’s condition. For example, neglecting to treat a patient in the early stages of a terminal illness or administering intrusive therapies at the end of the disease course are both against palliative care ethics.