Samira K. Beckwith contributes to World Health Organization Global Atlas

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Feb. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- Samira K. Beckwith, president and CEO of Hope HealthCare Services, contributed to the “Global Atlas of Palliative Care at the End of Life,” published in January by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA).

The Global Atlas also features the community-based palliative care programs of Hope HealthCare Services under the title, “Sharing Hope with the Community.”

Beckwith assisted in developing the extensive report, which for the first time maps the unmet psychosocial and emotional needs of patients with serious advanced illnesses, as well as the family members who provide care to loved ones.

“It’s so important for those of us with extensive experience in palliative care to share our insights as well as our best practices,” said Beckwith. “Palliative care helps improve the quality of life of those who are impacted by serious illness, yet too often, the services aren't made available to patients and their families.”

In fact, the “Global Atlas of Palliative Care at the End of Life” reports that only one in 10 people who need palliative care – defined as medical care designed to relieve the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness - are receiving it.

“Through education, I believe we can transform the way palliative care is incorporated into the health care delivery model,” Beckwith said. “Relieving chronic pain for individuals is nothing short of life-changing.”

The Atlas can be downloaded at http://www.who.int/cancer/publications/palliative-care-atlas/en/