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Böhm L, Schwartz J, Michael M, Diehl-Wiesenecker E, Bernhard M, Neukirchen M. [Survey on the presence of palliative care knowledge and palliative care structures in German emergency departments]. DIE ANAESTHESIOLOGIE 2023; 72:863-870. [PMID: 37994928 PMCID: PMC10692016 DOI: 10.1007/s00101-023-01356-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Patients with life-limiting or palliative illnesses represent a challenge for emergency departments because, despite the growing availability of specialized outpatient palliative care resources at home, patients often present during symptom exacerbations or when family caregivers become overwhelmed. Also, as life-limiting illnesses are frequently first diagnosed there and treatment goals are adjusted, it appears advantageous to establish early connections between emergency patients with palliative needs and palliative care resources. The objective of this study was to conduct a survey evaluating the availability of fundamental palliative care knowledge and palliative care structures in clinical acute and emergency medicine. For this purpose, an online survey was distributed via emergency medicine blogs, targeting physicians working in emergency departments. In total, 383 fully completed questionnaires were analyzed. It was found that the respondents often encounter patients with palliative needs. However, both outpatient and inpatient palliative resources are not universally accessible, and where, for instance, consultation services are available, there is a lack of consensus regarding the appropriate timing for their utilization. Structures for end of life care are largely in place, although time and personnel are often insufficiently available. There is an expressed interest in further education and training in palliative care. In conclusion, as emergency departments serve as the interface between outpatient and inpatient care, an interdisciplinary and holistic approach can be employed to lay the groundwork for ongoing palliative care, benefiting patients with palliative needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennert Böhm
- Zentrale Notaufnahme, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
- Arbeitsgruppe "Ethik" der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Interdisziplinäre Notfall- und Akutmedizin (DGINA e. V.), Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Jacqueline Schwartz
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
| | - Mark Michael
- Zentrale Notaufnahme, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
| | - Eva Diehl-Wiesenecker
- Arbeitsgruppe "Ethik" der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Interdisziplinäre Notfall- und Akutmedizin (DGINA e. V.), Berlin, Deutschland
- Zentrale Notaufnahme und Aufnahmestation, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität und Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Michael Bernhard
- Zentrale Notaufnahme, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
| | - Martin Neukirchen
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
- Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
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2
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Nordt SP, Ryan JM, Kelly D, Kutubi A, Saleh R, Quinn C, Al Kharusi T, Tiernan EJ. Palliative care patient emergency department visits at tertiary university-based emergency department in Ireland. Am J Emerg Med 2023; 66:76-80. [PMID: 36736062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Palliative care patients often present to the emergency department (ED) for various reasons e.g., acute illness, pain, altered mental status, and complications of therapy. Many visits involve less severe etiologies e.g., dyspnea, constipation, fear as patients approach the end of life, which may be more effectively and efficiently managed outside of the ED. The objective of this study is to identify and assess the frequency of presenting complaints, primary diagnosis, triage acuity, need for admission, in an Irish setting. METHODS A single-center retrospective, observational study of palliative care patients presenting to a tertiary-care university hospital emergency department in Dublin, Ireland. Study subjects were identified using the palliative care database and cross-referencing with the ED electronic patient record system database. The primary objective to identify potential areas to minimize ED visits and improve patient care and quality of life by elucidating reasons for visits. Outcome measures include presenting complaint, primary diagnosis, triage severity score, admission, discharge, death in hospital. Statistical analysis presented as descriptive statistics. RESULTS Four-hundred-ninety-nine ED visits, 245 (49%) were male, and 254 (51%) were female with a mean age of 69.3 years-of-age. Most patients, 285 (57.1%) self-referred to the emergency department, with general practitioners and skilled nursing facility referrals 72 (14.4%) and 39 (7.8%), respectively. Primary diagnoses were various cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and dementia. Major reasons for visits were dyspnea, pain, falls, trauma, fever, and altered mental status. Two-hundred-eighty-nine patients (58%) had an emergency severity index (ESI) score of 1 or 2 demonstrating a higher level of acuity. Three-hundred-fifty-eight (71.7%) were admitted, 141 (28.3%) discharged to home, 64 (12.8%) admitted patients died during their hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS Palliative care patients utilize ED services not uncommonly. Though many of these patients presented with higher acuity triage scores, 42% had lower ESI scores and may be effectively managed outside of the ED. These data suggest developing mechanisms for these patients to be urgently evaluated in their homes or facilities obviating the need for an ED evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Patrick Nordt
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University, School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America.
| | - John M Ryan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Eoin J Tiernan
- Department of Palliative Medicine, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Voaklander B, Gaudet LA, Kirkland SW, Keto-Lambert D, Villa-Roel C, Rowe BH. Interventions to improve consultations in the emergency department: A systematic review. Acad Emerg Med 2022; 29:1475-1495. [PMID: 35546740 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Emergency department (ED) consultations with specialists are necessary for safe and effective patient care. Delays in the ED consultation process, however, have been shown to increase ED length of stay (LOS) and contribute to ED crowding. This review aims to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to improve the ED consultation process. METHODS Eight primary literature databases and the gray literature were searched to identify comparative studies assessing ED-based interventions to improve the specialist consultation process. Two independent reviewers identified eligible studies, assessed study quality, and extracted data. Individual or pooled meta-analysis for continuous outcomes were calculated as mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model was conducted. RESULTS Thirty-five unique comparative intervention studies were included. While the interventions varied, four common components/themes were identified including interventions to improve consultant responsiveness (n = 11), improve access to consultants in the ED (n = 9), expedite ED consultations (n = 8), and bypass ED consultations (n = 7). Studies on interventions to improve consult responsiveness consistently reported a decrease in consult response times in the intervention group with percent changes between 10% and 71%. Studies implementing interventions to improve consult responsiveness (MD -2.55, 95% CI -4.88 to -0.22) and interventions to bypass ED consultations (MD -0.99, 95% CI -1.43 to -0.56) consistently reported a decrease in ED LOS; however, heterogeneity was high (I2 = 99%). Evidence on whether any of the interventions were effective at reducing the proportion of patients consulted or subsequently admitted varied. CONCLUSIONS The various interventions impacting the consultation process were predominately successful in reducing ED LOS, with evidence suggesting that interventions improving consult responsiveness and improving access to consultants in the ED also improve consult response times. Health care providers looking to implement interventions to improve the ED consultation process should identify key areas in their setting that could be targeted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Voaklander
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lindsay A Gaudet
- Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Scott W Kirkland
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Diana Keto-Lambert
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cristina Villa-Roel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian H Rowe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Bayuo J, Agbeko AE, Acheampong EK, Abu-Odah H, Davids J. Palliative care interventions for adults in the emergency department: A review of components, delivery models, and outcomes. Acad Emerg Med 2022; 29:1357-1378. [PMID: 35435306 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing evidence suggest the emergence of palliative care (PC) services in the emergency department (ED). To gain insight into the nature of these services and provide direction to future actions, there is a need for a comprehensive review that ascertains the components of these services, integration models, and outcomes. METHODS A scoping review design was employed and reported according to the PRISMA extension guidelines for scoping reviews. Extensive searches in peer-reviewed databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Medline) and gray literature sources (Trove, MedNar, OpenGrey, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) were undertaken and supplemented with hand searching. Titles, abstracts, and full text were reviewed in duplicate. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported on a PC intervention implemented in the ED for adults. Codes were formulated across the included studies, which facilitated the conduct of a narrative synthesis. RESULTS Twenty-three studies were retained with the majority (n = 15) emerging from the United States. The components of PC interventions in the ED were categorized as: (1) screening, (2) goals of care discussion and communication, (3) managing pain and other distressing symptoms in the ED, (4) transitions across care settings, (5) end-of-life (EoL) care, (6) family/caregiver support, and (7) ED staff education. Traditional PC consultations and integrated ED-PC services were the main modes of delivery. PC in the ED can potentially improve patient symptoms, facilitate access to relevant services, reduce length of stay, improve care at the EoL, facilitate bereavement and postbereavement support for family members, and improve ED staff confidence in delivering PC. CONCLUSIONS PC implementation in the ED may potentially improve patient and family outcomes. More studies are needed, however, to standardize trigger or screening tools. More prospective studies are also needed to test PC interventions in the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Bayuo
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | | | | | - Hammoda Abu-Odah
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Jephtah Davids
- College of Health Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Greater Accra, Ghana
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5
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May P, Normand C, Noreika D, Skoro N, Cassel JB. Using predicted length of stay to define treatment and model costs in hospitalized adults with serious illness: an evaluation of palliative care. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2021; 11:38. [PMID: 34542719 PMCID: PMC8454145 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-021-00336-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Economic research on hospital palliative care faces major challenges. Observational studies using routine data encounter difficulties because treatment timing is not under investigator control and unobserved patient complexity is endemic. An individual's predicted LOS at admission offers potential advantages in this context. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study on adults admitted to a large cancer center in the United States between 2009 and 2015. We defined a derivation sample to estimate predicted LOS using baseline factors (N = 16,425) and an analytic sample for our primary analyses (N = 2674) based on diagnosis of a terminal illness and high risk of hospital mortality. We modelled our treatment variable according to the timing of first palliative care interaction as a function of predicted LOS, and we employed predicted LOS as an additional covariate in regression as a proxy for complexity alongside diagnosis and comorbidity index. We evaluated models based on predictive accuracy in and out of sample, on Akaike and Bayesian Information Criteria, and precision of treatment effect estimate. RESULTS Our approach using an additional covariate yielded major improvement in model accuracy: R2 increased from 0.14 to 0.23, and model performance also improved on predictive accuracy and information criteria. Treatment effect estimates and conclusions were unaffected. Our approach with respect to treatment variable yielded no substantial improvements in model performance, but post hoc analyses show an association between treatment effect estimate and estimated LOS at baseline. CONCLUSION Allocation of scarce palliative care capacity and value-based reimbursement models should take into consideration when and for whom the intervention has the largest impact on treatment choices. An individual's predicted LOS at baseline is useful in this context for accurately predicting costs, and potentially has further benefits in modelling treatment effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter May
- Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin, 3-4 Foster Place, Dublin, Ireland.
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Charles Normand
- Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin, 3-4 Foster Place, Dublin, Ireland
- King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, London, UK
| | - Danielle Noreika
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Nevena Skoro
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - J Brian Cassel
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Kruhlak M, Kirkland SW, Clua MG, Villa-Roel C, Elwi A, O'Neill B, Duggan S, Brisebois A, Rowe BH. An Assessment of the Management of Patients with Advanced End-Stage Illness in the Emergency Department: An Observational Cohort Study. J Palliat Med 2021; 24:1840-1848. [PMID: 34255578 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2021.0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Presentations to the emergency department (ED) by patients with end-of-life (EOL) conditions for their acute care needs are common. Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify and describe the ED management across presentations to the ED for EOL conditions. Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Settings/Subjects: Emergency physicians in two Canadian ED's were asked to identify presentations by adult patients with EOL conditions using a modified screening tool. Measurements: Patient characteristics and ED management for each presentation were collected through chart review by trained research assistants. Descriptive analyses were conducted as appropriate and bivariate comparisons of dichotomous and continuous variables were completed using χ2 tests and using t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, respectively. Results: Physicians identified 663 ED presentations for EOL conditions, with advanced cancer (41%), dementia (23%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (16%) being the most common EOL conditions. The majority of presentations involved consultations (77%), hospitalization (65%), and numerous investigations (97%), including blood work (97%) and imaging (92%). The majority of patients with EOL conditions had a history of ED visits (68%). Using a modified screening tool, 78% of presentations involved patients with unmet palliative care needs, but only 1% of presentations involved a palliative consultation or admission to a palliative care unit. Conclusion: Presentations to the ED for EOL conditions involve significant ED resources; however, only a handful of patients are referred to palliative services. Patients with EOL conditions are appropriate targets for palliative services and community support outside the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Kruhlak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Scott W Kirkland
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Miriam Garrido Clua
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cristina Villa-Roel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Adam Elwi
- Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Shelley Duggan
- Department of Medicine and Palliative Care, Grey Nun Hospital, Covenant Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Amanda Brisebois
- Department of Medicine and Palliative Care, Grey Nun Hospital, Covenant Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian H Rowe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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7
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Kirkland SW, Ghalab A, Kruhlak M, Ruske H, Campbell S, Yang EH, Villa-Roel C, Rowe BH. An Assessment of Emergency Department-Based Interventions for Patients with Advanced or End-Stage Illness: A Systematic Review. J Palliat Med 2021; 24:605-618. [PMID: 33555970 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2020.0607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objective: With the increase of visits among patients with end-of-life needs, palliative care (PC) interventions delivered in the emergency department (ED) have become increasingly important. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of ED-based PC interventions. Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted to identify any comparative studies assessing the effectiveness of ED-based PC interventions. Two independent reviewers completed study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction. Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random effects model and heterogeneity (I2) was reported. Results: A total of 18 unique studies were included. Two studies reported no difference in return visits to the ED (RR = 1.31; 95% CI: 0.73-2.35; I2 = 47%). Two randomized trials reported no difference in mortality (RR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.71-1.13; I2 = 0%), while one cohort study reported an increased mortality among patients referred to PC in the ED (RR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.58-2.27). Overall, six out of eight studies reported a decrease in hospital length of stay (LOS) among patients undergoing an ED-based PC intervention compared with usual care. Conclusions: While there is compelling evidence to suggest that ED-based PC interventions can reduce hospital LOS, the evidence for the impact of these interventions on other outcomes is less robust. More high-quality comparative studies are needed to better understand the overall impact of ED-based PC interventions on improving patient outcomes as well as improving throughput and other quality of service-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott W Kirkland
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ammar Ghalab
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maureen Kruhlak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hannah Ruske
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sandra Campbell
- J.W. Scott Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Esther H Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cristina Villa-Roel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian H Rowe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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