Avoidable emergency department visits among palliative care cancer patients: novel insights from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

Background: Several studies emerging from developed countries have highlighted a significant number of potentially avoidable emergency department (ED) visits by cancer patients during the end-of-life period. However, there is a paucity of information from developing nations regarding palliative care practices and the utilization of the ED by palliative care patients. Herein, we aim to characterize ED admissions among patients receiving palliative care at our tertiary center in Saudi Arabia.

Reducing Futile Acute Care Services for Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer: The Dignity Project.

Purpose: Patients with terminal diseases frequently undergo interventions that are futile and may be detrimental to their quality of life. We conducted a quality improvement project aimed to reduce the utilization of futile acute care services (ACSs) for patients with cancer treated with a palliative intent.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team reviewed the records of terminally ill patients with cancer who died between November 2017 and May 2018, during their admission at our institution.