Jayne Viets MD, Eronica C. King, Bobbie S. Andrews, Robert B. Heard, Alyssa M. Hughes, Elizabeth Stroh, Trien Vu MD, Cassandra Smith, Valda D. Page, John Stroh MD
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
A significant portion of oncology patients visit the emergency department (ED) in the last months of their life, often without advanced care plans (ACP). This leads to fragmented care and inconsistent adherence to patients’ end-of-life wishes.
Objective
To enhance the documentation and adherence to advanced care plans for oncology patients visiting the ED, particularly in the context of end-of-life care preferences.
Methods
This was a retrospective observational study. The data was extracted from Epic ED encounters that occurred during 04/01/2023 through 05/31/2023. Eligibility criteria included patients at least 19 years of age and having at least one of the following: a previous DNR, an out of hospital DNR (OOHDNR), a previous discharge to hospice or an ACP note with Full Code documented as “No”. Descriptive statistics using proportions were used to tabulate differences between the two months of data.
A multidisciplinary team, including clinicians, spiritual care providers, nurses, social workers, and data analysts, initiated a quality improvement project. The project focused on the integration of spiritual care providers in advanced care planning discussions, the optimization of electronic medical records (EMR) for real time identification and management of patients’ care and preferences, and the training of healthcare staff in ACP documentation.
Results
During the two-month study period, a total of 5,125 ED encounters occurred with 4,985 potentially eligible patients and 2,747 (55.1%) ED to hospital admissions. The combined number of patients meeting the patient criteria was 276 (5.5%). The intervention led to a 95% increase in the documentation of ACP notes and 46% increase in Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders for patients who had previously expressed a preference for a natural death. It highlighted the role of spiritual care providers as a crucial and underutilized resource in managing end-of -life care discussions.
Discussion
This project underscores the importance of interprofessional collaboration in end-of-life care. The utilization of spiritual care providers in ACP discussions and the use of a more integrated EMR system can improve the alignment of emergency care with oncology patients’ end-of-life preferences, leading to better patient outcomes and potentially reduced healthcare costs.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Emergency Medicine is an international, peer-reviewed publication featuring original contributions of interest to both the academic and practicing emergency physician. JEM, published monthly, contains research papers and clinical studies as well as articles focusing on the training of emergency physicians and on the practice of emergency medicine. The Journal features the following sections:
• Original Contributions
• Clinical Communications: Pediatric, Adult, OB/GYN
• Selected Topics: Toxicology, Prehospital Care, The Difficult Airway, Aeromedical Emergencies, Disaster Medicine, Cardiology Commentary, Emergency Radiology, Critical Care, Sports Medicine, Wound Care
• Techniques and Procedures
• Technical Tips
• Clinical Laboratory in Emergency Medicine
• Pharmacology in Emergency Medicine
• Case Presentations of the Harvard Emergency Medicine Residency
• Visual Diagnosis in Emergency Medicine
• Medical Classics
• Emergency Forum
• Editorial(s)
• Letters to the Editor
• Education
• Administration of Emergency Medicine
• International Emergency Medicine
• Computers in Emergency Medicine
• Violence: Recognition, Management, and Prevention
• Ethics
• Humanities and Medicine
• American Academy of Emergency Medicine
• AAEM Medical Student Forum
• Book and Other Media Reviews
• Calendar of Events
• Abstracts
• Trauma Reports
• Ultrasound in Emergency Medicine