Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:55 — 28.3MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS | More
My guest this week, Dr. Benzi Kluger MD is the Chief and founder of the Palliative Care Center and Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado Hospital. Dr. Kluger directs the University of Colorado’s Neurology Supportive and Palliative care clinics. These team-based clinics are open to any patient or family affected by a neurologic or neurosurgical condition. The goals of this clinic are to improve the quality of life and reduce suffering for patients and families by helping them with difficult medical symptoms (e.g. pain, fatigue), psychiatric symptoms (e.g. depression), psychological issues (e.g. guilt, grief), caregiver support, spiritual wellbeing and planning for the future. His specific clinical interests include movement disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, tremor, dystonia, chorea) and disorders of thinking and memory. Regarding his care philosophy, Dr. Kluger says “I treat people not diseases.” He goes on to share that he believes everyone has unique perspectives, priorities, strengths and weaknesses that are important to understand in working towards their health goals. Good communication is critical to this relationship, especially his ability to really hear patients and to communicate his thoughts in a way that is understandable. He is open to admitting when he doesn’t have the answers and he enjoys working with a team of other clinicians.
