Implementation of an automated palliative (comfort) care program for Mount Sinai Hospital patients with advanced cancer reduced re-hospitalizations and receipt of chemotherapy, according to a study published by the Journal of Oncology Practice.
Prior to implementation of the automated program, advanced cancer patients only received palliative care consultations if requested by the care team.  Following implementation of the program, the share of patients receiving palliative care consultations increased from 39 percent to 80 percent, re-hospitalization rates fell from 35 percent to 18 percent, and receipt of chemotherapy fell from 44 percent to 18 percent.
Patients with advanced cancer who are hospitalized frequently end up back in the hospital where they can be subjected to invasive treatments in intensive care units even if the care does little to prolong or improve quality of life, according to researchers who conducted the study.  Patients in this position are at high risk for pain, emotional distress and financial hardship while their caregivers report high levels of depression and anxiety.
The automated palliative care program at Mount Sinai helped to engage patients in their care and make informed decisions about the last days of their lives. Researchers found that many patients who did not receive palliative care consultations were not fully informed about their prognoses of treatment.  Mandated palliative care consultations allowed patients to establish goals for their care and were more likely to be discharged with home health care or hospice services.
Source/more: Healthcare Dive
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