Outcomes of Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Unit, and Role of Physician Assistants as Emerging Work Force in Upstream Inpatient Palliative Care (RP523)

Abstract Background: Some patients admitted to an inpatient palliative care unit (PCU), and who were discharged temporarily to home, later died at the PCU. The experiences of these patients and their families during temporary discharge are unclear.Methods: This study was part of a nationwide post-bereavement survey, the Japan Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation 3 study. We sent questionnaires to the bereaved relatives of cancer patients who died in a PCU in 2018.Results: Of the 968 questionnaires sent, 571 (59%) were analyzed. Sixteen percent of the patients experienced temporary discharge from the PCU. Seventy-two percent of the bereaved family reported that the patients said, “I am happy to be discharged to home.” Between 22% and 37% of the patients reported an improvement in their condition after discharge. Family caregivers’ recognition of the better quality of the patient’s life at home and hospital doctors’ assurances of re-hospitalization whenever necessary, were significantly associated with positive experiences of temporary discharge.Conclusion: Bereaved family members recognized temporary discharge as a positive experience for both the patient and the family. Appropriate home palliative care and discharge planning contribute to positive experiences after discharge.

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The function and role of hospice and palliative care facilities in the community

Juntendo Medical Journal ◽

10.14789/pjmj.49.194 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 194-207

Author(s):

JUNKO TAKAISHI ◽

MASAKO SUGIMOTO ◽

NAOKO ARAGA ◽

MASAKO AKIYAMA ◽

YOSHIKO, S. LEIBOWITZ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Care Facilities ◽

Hospice And Palliative Care

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Communication in oncology pharmacy

10.1093/med/9780198736134.003.0051 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Bethan Tranter ◽

Simon Noble

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Treatment Adherence ◽

Drug Safety ◽

Medication Compliance ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Optimal Drug ◽

Treatment Medication ◽

Hospice And Palliative Care ◽

Timely Treatment

Pharmacists are considered to have a pivotal role in the provision of information in oncology, and in hospice and palliative care. Effective communication is essential for optimal drug safety, timely treatment, medication compliance, and education. The role of the pharmacist has expanded to offer enhanced pharmaceutical care, which serves to improve the communication between healthcare providers and the function of the multidisciplinary team. Furthermore, through optimal communication with patients there will be increased treatment adherence and improved overall care. This chapter focuses on the breadth of communication issues faced by pharmacists involved in cancer care through the full length of the cancer journey, be it curative or palliative.

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Therapeutic TouchTM in a geriatric palliative care unit – A retrospective review (the role of therapeutic touch in symptoms relief in terminally ill patients and it's impact on Palliative care unit)

Zeitschrift für Palliativmedizin ◽

10.1055/s-0034-1374273 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 15 (03) ◽

Author(s):

H Senderovich ◽

ML Ip ◽

L Dunal ◽

H Kuttner ◽

A Berall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Retrospective Review ◽

Terminally Ill ◽

Palliative Care Unit ◽

Therapeutic Touch ◽

Terminally Ill Patients

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What does 'palliative care' mean? Diverse definitions from cancer care providers.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2016.34.26_suppl.40 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 34 (26_suppl) ◽

pp. 40-40

Author(s):

Erin E. Kent ◽

Rebecca A. Ferrer ◽

Michelle Mollica ◽

Grace Huang ◽

Angela Falisi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Care Provider ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Physician Assistants ◽

Models Of Care ◽

Care Providers ◽

Clinical Nurses ◽

Curative Care ◽

Wide Range ◽

Hospice And Palliative Care

40 Background: Existing literature on the epistemology of palliative care has mostly centered on patient/family perspectives. Understanding how multi-disciplinary healthcare providers themselves define palliative care is a critical step towards addressing barriers and harnessing facilitators that affect optimal delivery. Methods: Semi-structured key informant interviews (N = 19) were conducted with members of healthcare provider teams as part of a qualitative study on goals of care for cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials. Purposive sampling included diverse roles: attending physicians/principal investigators, oncology fellows, physician assistants, research and clinical nurses, patient care coordinators, palliative care physicians, social workers, chaplains, and pharmacists. One probe asked participants, “What does palliative care mean to you in your work?” Responses were transcribed and independently coded by two raters using interview-derived deductive and emergent inductive codes. Themes were then identified and analyzed using NVivo. Results: Informants included different elements in their definitions: attributes of palliative care (“Palliative care is helpful”); structure (“We have a pain and palliative team”); patient outcomes “(comfort”), and relation to other services (“adjunct to necessary medical care”). Additional themes also included (1) the charge of palliative care to alleviate suffering; (2) the recognition that palliative care should be holistic; (3) the centrality of symptom management, in particular pain; (4) the conflation of end-of-life, hospice, and palliative care; (5) tensions between palliative and curative care. Provider role and specific team membership appear to influence perspectives on definitions of palliative care. Conclusions: Providers share a wide range of perspectives on the operationalization of palliative care in their work. In addition to soliciting input from patients and family members, the viewpoints of a diverse set of providers should be ascertained often to inform models of care, alleviate tensions between palliative and curative care provider teams, and increase optimal usage of palliative care.

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The Role of Physical Therapists Within Hospice and Palliative Care in the United States and Canada

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® ◽

10.1177/1049909115604668 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 34-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Christopher M. Wilson ◽

Christine H. Stiller ◽

Deborah J. Doherty ◽

Kristine A. Thompson

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Data Analysis ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

The United States ◽

Direct Patient Care ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Hospice And Palliative Care

Purpose: Little is known regarding the extent to which physical therapy is integrated into Hospice and Palliative Care (HPC). The purpose of this study was to describe perceptions of physical therapists (PTs) regarding their role within HPC or working with patients having life-threatening illnesses and to develop a conceptual framework depicting a PTs role within HPC and factors affecting it. Participants: Ten PTs, 5 from the United States and 5 from Canada, with at least 5 years of physical therapy experience and 5 years working experience with patients having life-threatening illnesses or in HPC. Methods: Demographic data were collected by electronic questionnaire. A semistructured interview was conducted with each participant to investigate their perceptions about the role of PTs in HPC. Data Analysis: Interview results were analyzed for trends between participants, practice settings, regions, and other sociocultural aspects. The constant comparative method of qualitative data analysis was used to identify similarities and differences and to develop themes and concepts relative to the role of PT in HPC. Results: Participants identified their 3 primary roles in HPC: providing patient/family care, serving as an interdisciplinary team member, and fulfilling professional responsibilities outside of direct patient care. They described factors within and outside direct patient care which influenced their roles. Concepts included shifting priorities, care across the continuum, and changing perceptions of PTs within HPC. Clinical Relevance: This study described perceptions of the role of PTs within HPC that may be utilized when coordinating future strategies to appropriately promote and expand the role.

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