The Pharmacist's Role in Palliative and End of Life Symptom Management

Program Description

As chronic, life-limiting illnesses increase, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are integral in optimizing pharmacologic therapies for symptom management at the end of patients' lives. This article explores common disease states and associated symptoms in end-of-life care, such as pain, dyspnea, nausea/vomiting, delirium, and constipation, and the pharmacist's role in their pharmacologic management. Participants will learn to apply the Pharmacist's Patient Care Process to end-of-life symptom management. Other roles and responsibilities discussed include comprehensive medication review, deprescribing non-beneficial medications, opioid conversions and rotation, and monitoring for adverse drug events. The article also features insights on communication, ethical considerations, shared decision-making, and emerging roles like telehealth and pharmacogenomics in palliative care, reinforcing the pharmacist's expanding impact on quality of life at the end of life.

Target Audience: Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist, Consultant Pharmacist, Health System Pharmacist, Managed Care Pharmacist, Oncology Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician, Retail Pharmacist, Specialty Pharmacist

Type of Activity: Knowledge
Release date: September 30, 2025
Expiration date: September 30, 2026
Learner level: Foundational
Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify the pharmacist's contributions to the interdisciplinary team in palliative and hospice care settings
• Examine the role of the pharmacist in managing symptoms and optimizing medication therapy for patients receiving end-of-life care
• Explain how the Pharmacist's Patient Care Process can be applied to end-of-life symptom management.