Providing Care for the “Whole Patient” in the Cancer Setting: The Psycho-Oncology Consultation Model of Patient Care

This paper describes a psycho-oncology consultation model of care (POCM) that provides a framework for psychosocial clinical work with cancer patients. Goals for care are addressed that follow the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine report advocating care for the “whole patient.” Specific goals include reducing distress and symptoms, building on the patient’s existing strengths, enhancing self-efficacy, expanding the patient’s repertoire of healthy coping strategies, and addressing informational needs. Specific interventions are described that clinicians can implement in order to address the above goals. The paper also addresses the unique challenges encountered in working with cancer patients, as well as programmatic difficulties that are inherent in providing mental health care in a medical setting.