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Palliative care programs: what, why, and how?
1Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, N.Y., USA.
Physician Executive
|January 5, 2002
Summary
Palliative care services enhance patient well-being and alleviate family distress for terminally ill patients. These specialized services also optimize hospital resource utilization, benefiting both patients and healthcare systems.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care Medicine
- Healthcare Management
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Hopelessly ill patients often experience significant suffering and unmet needs.
- Family members of terminally ill patients face considerable emotional and logistical challenges.
- Hospitals can face challenges in managing resources for complex end-of-life care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a palliative care service on patient care.
- To assess the effect of palliative care on family concerns.
- To examine the influence of palliative care on hospital utilization outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A palliative care service was established and has been operational for nearly five years.
- The service operates at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
- The study involves a qualitative and quantitative analysis of patient and hospital data.
Main Results:
- The palliative care service has demonstrated improvements in patient care delivery.
- Family concerns related to end-of-life care have been eased by the service.
- Hospital utilization outcomes have shown positive changes since the service's inception.
Conclusions:
- Establishing palliative care services is beneficial for improving patient care and supporting families.
- Palliative care integration positively impacts hospital operational efficiency.
- The Mount Sinai Hospital model offers valuable insights for other healthcare institutions.