Niharika Khanna
Niharika Khanna is an Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. She is the Director of the Maryland Learning Collaborative for the Maryland Health Care Commission’s Multi-Payer Program for Patient Centered Medical Homes to provide clinical implementation of the state’s health care reform policies and primary care workforce training in the advanced primary care model. Dr. Khanna has worked on the planning process for the MMPP program since December 2009 and the CMS funded SIM Planning Grant workforce committee in the design of the CIMH model. Dr. Khanna’s interests are in clinical translational activities to develop community platforms and methodologies to facilitate the implementation and dissemination of new models of primary care to achieve the triple aim of improved patient experience, health care quality and cost containment. Dr. Khanna has held several clinical and clinical research leadership positions.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
