Developing a successful palliative care service in an acute care setting

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Hospital Medicine
• Chronic Illness Management

Background:

• Hospitalized patients with chronic illnesses often require intensive symptom management.
• Many individuals with chronic conditions are ineligible for traditional hospice care.
• There is a need for specialized palliative care services within community hospitals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and impact of a palliative care consult service.
• To address the unmet needs of hospitalized chronic illness patients.
• To evaluate the service's effect on patient care and hospital resources.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a dedicated palliative care consult service in a 371-bed community hospital.
• The service provided expert symptom management and supportive care.
• Evaluation of patient outcomes and resource utilization.

Main Results:

• The palliative care service enhanced patient care for those with chronic illnesses.
• The consult service was integrated without significant strain on hospital resources.
• Improved symptom management was achieved for non-hospice-eligible patients.

Conclusions:

• A palliative care consult service can effectively manage symptoms in hospitalized chronic illness patients.
• Such services improve care quality for a vulnerable patient population.
• Palliative care integration is feasible and beneficial in community hospital settings.