I would say in response that we have a whole lot of sub-specialists, a whole lot of areas of focus, and they're all neatly packaged in nice boxes. Parkinson's is one area of specialization, and there are a whole lot of others.
I strongly suggest that if the area of hospice palliative care were to integrate with Parkinson's in a more intentional way, the knowledge of both coming together would be very helpful, specifically for Parkinson's. Unfortunately, hospice palliative care has historically been somewhat of a fringe element of health care and has not integrated into the mainstream to the extent that it could. Given that there is a lot of knowledge that Parkinson's as a specialty has about Parkinson's specifically, the area of hospice palliative care that focuses on suffering, relieving suffering, and improving the quality of living and dying has a lot to say that could be very helpful. Just as Parkinson's could inform hospice palliative care, it could be the other way around.
I think it just requires communication between these areas of specialization, taking the experts who exist within both fields and seeing where there's overlap; seeing where there are opportunities for that information to be shared and for people to grow and learn together. I think integrating hospice palliative care professionals into the interdisciplinary teams would be one way, at a clinical level, to see that it happens.
Experientially, people learn better when they learn together and have the ability to mentor each other. You can come in and do an in-service and go through a wonderful education program, but walk out and do nothing to change your practice as a clinician. But when you have people working together, sharing knowledge, and saying, “What about this? What about that?”, then you have the ability to grow together.
I think that's where the opportunity really lies for these two areas to focus on.