Palliative Care Physicians work hard to improve the functioning of body parts and improve the living conditions. They mainly focus on relieving the pain and other symptoms of serious and chronic illness. The Palliative Care Physicians work with patients and their family members to identify and alleviate physical and emotional pain and trauma associated with serious health conditions.

These professionals also spend time on family meetings and counseling process. They play as a strong link between the patients and family members and coordinate with the support groups and other service providers to ensure best services for them. The team where Palliative Care Physicians work, included nurses and social workers, pharmacists, massage therapists and nutritionists.

Key Challenges:

* Controlling pain, removing stress, addressing spiritual needs.
* Help the family members understand the patients’ conditions and treatment process.
* Improve communication between patients and care providers.

Education Requirements:

1. Earn a Medical Degree: The aspiring Palliative Care Physicians must earn a medical degree in any of the specialties: family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, anesthesiology, psychiatry and neurology, radiology or surgery.

2. Residency Program: After completing the medical degree, they may opt for residency programs to gain hands-on experience. They can also go for a one-year palliative medicine fellowship program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Working Conditions: The Palliative Care Physicians mostly work in hospitals, clinics, private nursing homes, government agencies, shelter homes etc. In some cases, they also offer services at patient’s home.

Salary & Job Outlook: Job outlook for the Palliative Care Physicians remain excellent. They earn in the range of $150,000 – $170,000 per year depending on experience and expertise.