Publications by authors named "Leslye Pennypacker"
Aggressively managing the symptoms of patients with critical life-limiting illness or terminal disease can improve the quality of life for patients and loved ones, regardless of how much time they have remaining. Palliative symptom management approaches disease in a holistic manner, addressing not only the physical aspect of symptoms but also the psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of suffering for total symptom relief. Pain is the most common reason for critical care palliative consultation, and using the World Health Organization Pain Ladder to systematically quantify, treat, and titrate pain is effective.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Widespread implementation of palliative care treatment plans could reduce suffering in the last days of life by adopting best practices of traditionally home-based hospice care in inpatient settings.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-modal intervention strategy to improve processes of end-of-life care in inpatient settings.
Design: Implementation trial with an intervention staggered across hospitals using a multiple-baseline, stepped wedge design.
Background: Over the past 20 years, both inpatient units and outpatient clinics have developed programs for geriatric evaluation and management. However, the effects of these interventions on survival and functional status remain uncertain.
Methods: We conducted a randomized trial involving frail patients 65 years of age or older who were hospitalized at 11 Veterans Affairs medical centers.