This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted 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 Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Estfan, B. Articles by Lagman, R. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Estfan, B. Articles by Lagman, R. L. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Palliative Care Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Business of Palliative Medicine—Part 5: Service Utilization in a Comprehensive Integrated Program

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

Mellar P. Davis, MD, FCCP

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

Declan Walsh, MSc, FACP, FRCP Edin

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

Jessica Heintz, MD

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

Philip E. Shaheen, MD

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

Bushra Cheema, MD

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

Susan B. LeGrand, MD, FACP

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

Ruth L. Lagman, MD, MPH

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

The aim of palliative medicine is to provide multidisciplinary comprehensive care in advanced illness. Patient and family utilization of various product service lines offered by the Harry R Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation was studied. Newly referred patients were followed up prospectively until 85% had either died or been lost to follow-up. Demographic, clinical, and referral data were recorded; subsequent product service line utilization was updated daily. The total study period was 171 days, and 238 patients entered. Acute care inpatient unit, outpatient clinic visits, and 24-hour phone contacts were the most frequently used product service lines. Patients had a median of 3 contacts (range, 1 to 27) with individual service lines. Multiple palliative medicine product service lines were utilized often, with repeated use of the individual service lines. A comprehensive integrated palliative medicine program is necessary to fully meet the complex needs of those with advanced disease.

Key Words: palliative medicine • palliative medicine program • cancer • utilization • survival • consultation.

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 24, No. 3, 211-218 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1049909106298722


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