A Home-Based Palliative Care Consult Service For Veterans

Keywords

advanced illness; end of life; home care; hospice; palliative care; veterans

Abstract

We describe the development and implementation of a home-based palliative care consult service for Veterans with advanced illness. A retrospective chart review was performed on 73 Veterans who received a home-based palliative care consult. Nearly one-third were 80 years of age or older, and nearly one-third had a palliative diagnosis of cancer. The most common interventions of the consult team included discussion of advance directives, completion of a “do not resuscitate” form, reduction/stoppage of at least 1 medication, explanation of diagnosis, referral to home-based primary care program, referral to hospice, and assessment/support for caregiver stress. The home-based consult service was therefore able to address clinical and psychosocial issues that can demonstrate a direct benefit to Veterans, families, and referring clinicians.

Publication Date

11-1-2016

Publication Title

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Volume

33

Issue

9

Number of Pages

858-862

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909115595497

Socpus ID

84989963702 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84989963702

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