| Course | MED 475 Palliative Care Managing Complex Serious Illness |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 7 |
| Paper type | Case study analysis |
| Length | About 448 words, 4 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Arizona State University |
| Program | BS in Medical Studies |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for MED 475 Module 7
Two Patients, Two Paths: Distinguishing Palliative Care From Hospice
Student Name
BS in Medical Studies, Arizona State University
MED 475: Palliative Care: Managing Complex Serious Illness
Instructor Name
Month Day, Year
Two Patients, Two Paths: Distinguishing Palliative Care From Hospice
The Patients (Illustrative)
Ms. Dana Reyes, 58, has metastatic breast cancer and is receiving chemotherapy with the goal of extending life. She has bone pain, nausea and anxiety about her teenage son.
Mr. Walter Brooks, 88, has end-stage heart failure with three hospitalizations in four months, shortness of breath at rest and weight loss. He tells his doctor, "I'm tired of the hospital. I want to be home."
The Distinction
Palliative care is specialized care for people with serious illness at any stage, focused on symptoms, stress and quality of life, and it can be provided alongside treatment aimed at cure or life extension. Hospice is palliative care for people near the end of life who have decided to make comfort, not treatment of the disease itself, the goal. Under the Medicare hospice benefit, a physician must certify that, if the disease follows its usual path, the patient is expected to live no longer than about six months (42 C.F.R. § 418.22), and the patient elects hospice in place of curative treatment for the terminal illness.
Applying the Distinction
Ms. Reyes benefits from palliative care now: pain and nausea control, support for anxiety and help planning for her son, while she continues chemotherapy. In a randomized trial among patients with metastatic lung cancer, early palliative care alongside cancer treatment improved quality of life without shortening survival, which supports involving the team early (Temel et al., 2010).
Mr. Brooks fits hospice. His symptoms, repeated hospitalizations and stated wish to stay home point to comfort-focused care, and his physicians could reasonably certify the limited life expectancy hospice requires. Hospice would provide a nurse case manager, home visits, medications and equipment for breathlessness, a home health aide, social work and chaplain support and bereavement care for his family.
| Ms. Reyes | Mr. Brooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal of care | Extend life while controlling symptoms | Comfort at home |
| Current treatment | Chemotherapy | Repeated hospital treatment, now unwanted |
| Prognosis | Uncertain; may be longer than six months | Likely six months or less |
| Best fit | Palliative care alongside oncology | Hospice |
Communication Considerations
For Mr. Brooks, the conversation should start with his goals and use clear language about what hospice provides, correcting the common belief that hospice means "giving up." Communication guidance recommends asking what the patient understands before sharing information and responding to emotion (Back et al., 2005). For Ms. Reyes, introducing palliative care as "an extra layer of support" helps separate it from end-of-life care.
Conclusion
The two patients show that palliative care and hospice share a philosophy but differ in timing, goals and eligibility. Matching each patient to the right service gives both the best possible quality of life.
References
Back, A. L., Arnold, R. M., Baile, W. F., Tulsky, J. A., & Fryer-Edwards, K. (2005). Approaching difficult communication tasks in oncology. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 55(3), 164-177. https://doi.org/10.3322/canjclin.55.3.164
Certification of terminal illness, 42 C.F.R. § 418.22 (2024).
Temel, J. S., Greer, J. A., Muzikansky, A., Gallagher, E. R., Admane, S., Jackson, V. A., Dahlin, C. M., Blinderman, C. D., Jacobsen, J., Pirl, W. F., Billings, J. A., & Lynch, T. J. (2010). Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(8), 733-742. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1000678
What the MED 475 Module 7 instructions ask for
Module 7 of MED 475 ends the case study series with a third 20-point case, set in the module that presents examples of palliative and hospice care patients. Its prompt and patient details are released in Canvas. Use the module's content to decide what kind of care fits the patient, explaining the difference between palliative care and hospice, the eligibility rules that apply and the services and goals that should follow. Ground the reasoning in course readings with APA citations, and organize the paper by the case questions so it reads easily. Explain the eligibility rule precisely and apply it to the patient's situation. Organize by case question.
Inside the MED 475 Module 7 example
The sample presents two illustrative patients briefly, then defines palliative care and hospice clearly and cites the Medicare eligibility regulation. A comparison table applies the distinction to both patients across goals, treatment, prognosis and best fit. Separate paragraphs describe what each patient should receive, and a communication section addresses common misunderstandings about hospice. A margin note explains why stating the rule precisely matters. The conclusion restates the distinction in one sentence. Each patient receives a concrete list of services, not just a label, and the communication section prepares the reader for real conversations. Prognosis is discussed carefully, as an estimate rather than a certainty, which is how hospice certification works in practice.
Where the marks sit in the MED 475 Module 7 rubric
Graders evaluating the final case study look for an accurate distinction between palliative care and hospice, correct eligibility criteria, a recommendation that fits the patient's goals and prognosis and a description of appropriate services. Papers lose points when they treat palliative care and hospice as the same, misstate eligibility, recommend hospice for a patient still pursuing disease-directed treatment without explanation or ignore the patient's stated wishes. Clear communication strategies and accurate sources strengthen the analysis. Accurate use of the six-month rule, with its source, and attention to the patient's stated goals usually separate strong answers from weaker ones. Naming specific hospice services shows applied knowledge. Clear tables help graders follow comparisons.
MED 475 Module 7 help: mistakes that cost marks
Write down each patient's goals and current treatment first. Compare those to the definitions of palliative care and hospice. Check prognosis against the six-month eligibility rule. Name the services each patient should receive. Add how you would talk with the patient about the recommendation. Use a comparison table if there is more than one patient. If the eligibility rules feel confusing, the desk can explain them. Keep the patient's own words in view. Look up the Medicare hospice benefit's basic rules before writing. Practice explaining hospice in two plain sentences, as you might to a worried family member. Keep each patient's goals in view. Draft the comparison table first, then write the paragraphs that explain it.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
This paper is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Arizona State University document. Read it for the moves, then write your own to the instructions in your classroom. If you want one built to your exact prompt and rubric, the first custom sample is free and arrives in 24 to 48 hours.
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MED 475 Module 7 questions, answered
Where can I find a free MED 475 Module 7 sample paper?
The full palliative care versus hospice case study is on this page.
What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?
Palliative care can come at any stage alongside treatment; hospice is comfort-focused care near the end of life.
Who is eligible for the Medicare hospice benefit?
Patients whose physicians certify a life expectancy of about six months or less, if the disease follows its usual course.
Can palliative care be given with chemotherapy?
Yes; palliative care can accompany treatment aimed at extending life.
What services does hospice provide?
Nursing visits, medications and equipment, aide care, social work, chaplaincy and bereavement support.