This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lagman, R. Articles by Davis, M. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lagman, R. Articles by Davis, M. P. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Acute Inpatient Palliative Medicine in a Cancer Center: Clinical Problems and Medical Interventions—A Prospective Study

Nilo Rivera, MD

The Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio

Declan Walsh, MSc, FACP, FRCP (Edin)

The Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio walsht{at}ccf.org

Susan LeGrand, MD, FACP

Mellar P. Davis, MD, FCCP

The Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio

The clinical characteristics and medical interventions of the 100 consecutive cancer admissions to the acute care inpatient palliative medicine unit at the Cleveland Clinic for 2 months are described. Median age was 62 years (range, 31 to 92 years). The male-female ratio was 1:1. Most admissions were referred by hematology-oncology and had prior antineoplastic therapy. Reasons for admission were symptom control and cancer-related complications. Patients underwent invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, hydration, transfusions, radiation, or chemotherapy, or a combination, during their admission. Most were discharged home with hospice care or had outpatient clinic follow-up. The mortality rate was 20%. Aggressive multidisciplinary management of symptoms, disease complications, comorbid conditions, and psychosocial problems were provided. Palliative medicine physicians provided continuity of care in the outpatient clinic and at home. An acute inpatient palliative medicine unit within a tertiary level medical center has a definable and important role in comprehensive cancer care.

Key Words: hospital • acute care • palliative medicine

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 24, No. 1, 20-28 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1049909106295292


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. I. Cherny, A. P. Abernethy, F. Strasser, R. Sapir, D. Currow, and S. Y. Zafar Improving the Methodologic and Ethical Validity of Best Supportive Care Studies in Oncology: Lessons From a Systematic Review J. Clin. Oncol., November 10, 2009; 27(32): 5476 - 5486. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Alsirafy, A. A. Hassan, and M. Z. Al-Shahri Hospitalization Pattern in a Hospital-based Palliative Care Program: An Example From Saudi Arabia American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, February 1, 2009; 26(1): 52 - 56. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S Mercadante, G Intravaia, P Villari, P Ferrera, F David, A Casuccio, and S Mangione Clinical and financial analysis of an acute palliative care unit in an oncological department Palliative Medicine, September 1, 2008; 22(6): 760 - 767. [Abstract] [PDF]