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Rachelle E. Bernacki, MD, MS


Palliative Medicine

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Rachelle E. Bernacki, MD, MS

Physician

  • Director of Quality Initiatives, Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care
  • Senior Physician
  • Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Centers/Programs

Clinical Interests

  • End-of-life care
  • Geriatrics
  • Palliative medicine
  • Symptom management

Contact Information

  • Appointments617-632-6464
  • Office Phone Number617-632-6464
  • Fax617-632-6180

Board Certification:

  • Geriatrics, 2006
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 2005
  • Internal Medicine, 2001

Fellowship:

  • MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics Fellowship
  • University of Chicago, Geriatrics
  • University of Chicago, Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program

Residency:

  • University of Washington, Internal Medicine

Medical School:

  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Recent Awards:

  • Geriatric Academic Career Award, Health Resources and Services Administration 2007
  • Summer Institute on Aging Research, National Institute on Aging 2007
  • Clinical Faculty Teaching Award, UCSF School of Medicine 2007
  • Excellence in Small Group Instruction Award, UCSF School of Medicine 2007, 2008

Research

Bernacki, R. Pantilat, S.Z. Guidelines for Palliative Care: Hospital and Hospice. In Esophageal Cancer Principles and Practice. Eds: Jobe, B. Thomas, C.R., Hunter J.G. 2009.

2009

Auerbach A.D., Pantilat S.Z., Schnipper J., Bernacki, R., Wetterneck T., Kaboli P., Gonzalez D., Manning W., Levinson W., Meltzer D. Factors associated with documentation of care discussions: A multicenter trial. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008; 3(6):437-445.

2008

Bernacki R, Brauner D. "Vanishing Tumors in a 95 year old woman." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2006; (55): S101.

2006

Bernacki, R. Not at Peace. Hastings Cent Rep 2005; 35(4):9-10.

2005

Bernacki, R. Use of healthcare resources in the last six months of life: How doctors learn may explain results. BMJ 2004; 328(7449):1202.

2004

Bernacki, R, Block, R. Communication about Serious Illness Care Goals: A Review and Synthesis of Best Practices. JAMA Intern Med. 2014; 174(12):1994-2003.

2014

Selvaggi K, Vick J, Jessell SA, Lister J, Abrahm JL, and Bernacki R. Bridging the Gap: A Palliative Care Consultation Service in a Hematological Malignancy-BMT Unit. Journal of Supportive Oncology 2014; 12 (2):50-55.

2014

Cooper, Z, Bernacki, R, Bader, A, Gawande, A, Block, S. Conversations about treatment preferences before high-risk surgery: A pilot study in the pre-operative testing center. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2014; 17(6):701-7.

2014

Bernacki, R, Smith, G, Block, S.  The Role of Palliative Care in Accountable Care Organizations.  Journal of Palliative Medicine 2015; 18(6): 486-494. 

2015

Bernacki, R, Smith, G, Hutchings, M, Vick, J; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Smith, G, Paladino, J, Lipsitz, S, Gawande, A Block, SD.  Development of the Serious Illness Care Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Palliative Care Communication Intervention. BMJ Open 2015: 5(10). e009032 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009032.

2015

Bernacki, R, Obermeyer, Z. A Need for More, Better, and Earlier Conversations With Cancer Patients About Goals of Care. Evidence Based Oncology 2015; 21 (6):166-7.

2015

Bernacki RE, Ko D, Higgins P, Whitlock S, Cullinan A, Wilson R, Jackson V, Dahlin C, Abrahm J, Mort E, Scheer K, Block S, Billings JA. Improving Access to Palliative Care through an Innovative Quality Improvement Initiative.  Journal of Palliative Medicine 2012; 15(2): 192-199.

2015

Billings, JA, Bernacki R.  Strategic Targeting of Advance Care Planning Interventions: The Goldilocks Phenomenon.  JAMA Internal Medicine 2014; 174(4):620-4.

2014

Cooper, Z, Mitchell, SL, Lipsitz, S, Harris, MB, Ayanian, JZ, Bernacki, R, Jha, AK. Mortality and Readmissions After Cervical Fractures From Falls In Older Adults: A Comparison To Hip Fracture Using National Medicare Data.  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2015; 63(10): 2036-42.

2015

Location

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
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