[Impact of a hospice home visit team on unwanted hospitalization of terminally-ill patients at home in acute medical emergencies].

Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of paramedical hospice specialists on hospitalization of terminally-ill patients in acute medical emergencies.

Method: In this intervention, the SAMU (French medical emergency call center) responded to requests for emergency aid at the homes of terminally-ill patients by sending to the patient's home, together with a physician and the emergency ambulance team, a team composed of a nurse and a volunteer, both trained in hospice (terminal) care . When the patient wished to stay at home, the hospice team remained to support the patient and family and to provide comfort care until the crisis situation stabilized.