Emergency Department Clinician Experience with Embedded Palliative Care

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Palliative Care
• Healthcare Delivery Systems

Background:

• Palliative care (PC) integration into emergency departments (EDs) is gaining recognition but remains sparsely reported.
• Few studies have assessed the experiences and attitudes of the entire ED multidisciplinary team toward embedded PC clinicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the attitudes and experiences of emergency department (ED) attendings, residents, nurses, social workers, and chaplains with an embedded PC clinician.
• To identify key themes and barriers related to the implementation and perception of an embedded PC program in an urban academic ED.

Main Methods:

• An embedded PC clinician model was implemented in an urban academic ED.
• A survey was administered to 142 ED clinicians, with 106 responding (75% response rate).
• Quantitative and qualitative analyses (descriptive and thematic) were used to analyze survey data.

Main Results:

• 99% of respondents found the embedded PC program valuable.
• Key benefits included improved patient management, enhanced provider support, increased provider skill sets, and better resource allocation.
• Qualitative themes highlighted program approval, desire for expansion, and the need for ongoing staff education and PC consultation criteria clarification.

Conclusions:

• ED clinicians demonstrated strong approval of embedded PC clinicians, reporting increased support and improved patient care.
• The program enhanced provider confidence and skills in primary PC delivery.
• Future programs should focus on staff education, proactive PC integration, and adaptation to ED needs.