The 37 million “family caregivers” who care for chronically ill patients in the United States have become “an integral part of the health care system” and deserve recognition from physicians for that role, according to a position paper issued by the American College of Physicians.
Family caregivers—defined broadly as relatives, partners, friends, and neighbors—provide care for 90% of dependent community-dwelling patients with acute and chronic physical illnesses, cognitive impairment, and/or mental health conditions, according to the authors (J. Gen. Intern. Med. 2010 Jan. 12 [Epub doi:10.1007/s11606-009-1206-3]).
“Coping with physical, emotional, spiritual and financial challenges affects caregiver health and quality of life as well as patients' health and quality of life,” they wrote.
Rheumatologist Robert G. Lahita, chairman of the department of medicine at Newark (N.J.) Beth Israel Medical Center, agreed. “Diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other illnesses like polymyositis can be included in those illnesses addressed by this important paper,” he commented in an interview.
Indeed, “ambulatory care is the norm in our specialty,” added Dr. Lahita, and “the rheumatologist provides care outside the medical center in most cases.”
According to the report, “physician accessibility and excellent communication are fundamental to supporting the patient and family caregiver”—a potentially difficult mandate, given the current climate of rushed office visits and time constrictions.