Palliative Care Consultation Utilization Among Patient Undergoing Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Tumors.

Objective: In patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastasis, we sought to: (1) describe patterns of palliative care consultation, (2) evaluate the factors that trigger palliative care consultation, and (3) determine the association of palliative care consultation on longer-term outcomes.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective, case-control study was conducted for patients undergoing spinal metastasis surgery from February 2010 to January 2021. The primary outcome was receiving a palliative care consultation, and the timing of consultation was divided into same hospital stay consultation, preoperative versus postoperative consultation, and early ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Palliative Care Exposure Relative to Predicted Risk of Six-Month Mortality in Hospitalized Adults.

Context: The optimal strategy for implementing mortality-predicting algorithms to facilitate clinical care, prognostic discussions, and palliative care interventions remains unknown.

Objectives: To develop and validate a real-time predictive model for 180 day mortality using routinely available clinical and laboratory admission data and determine if palliative care exposure varies with predicted mortality risk.

Methods: Adult admissions between October 1, 2013 and October.

Improving Medical and Nurse Practitioner Student Confidence and Clinical Skill in Advance Care Plan Development: A Multidisciplinary Mentorship Model.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is an integral aspect of patient-centered care, however medical (MD) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) students receive minimal education on how to facilitate ACP discussions and ultimately feel uncomfortable having these discussions with patients. The aim of this project was to increase MD and AGACNP students' perceived ability and confidence in leading ACP conversations through an ACP educational program called the Letter Project Pilot (LPP).

Methods: The LPP consisted of faculty-supervised interactions in the inpatient setting during which students were able to lead ACP discussions with patients by guiding them through an advance directive worksheet that was structured in the format of a letter.

Development and testing of a frailty-focused communication (FCOM) aid for older adults.

The concept of frailty as it pertains to aging, health and well-being is poorly understood by older adults and the public-at-large. We developed an aging and frailty education tool designed to improve layperson understanding of frailty and promote behavior change to prevent and/or delay frailty. We subsequently tested the education tool among adults who attended education sessions at 16 community sites.

Barriers and Facilitators to Discussing Goals of Care among Nephrology Trainees: A Qualitative Analysis and Novel Educational Intervention.

Goals of care (GOC) conversations are critical to advance care planning but occur infrequently in nephrology. National workshops have improved trainee comfort with initiating GOC conversations but lack interface with palliative subspecialists and can incur travel-related costs. We developed an educational intervention focused on GOC conversations for nephrology trainees that incorporated into routine schedules and offered feedback from palliative subspecialists.

The earlier the better: the role of palliative care consultation on aggressive end of life care, hospice utilization, and advance care planning documentation among gynecologic oncology patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of specialty palliative care consultation (PCC) on end of life care outcomes among terminally ill gynecologic oncology patients.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of currently deceased gynecologic oncology patients seen at a single, academic institution between October 2006 and October 2016. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were examined using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Care of the Critically Ill Burn Patient. An Overview from the Perspective of Optimizing Palliative Care.

Burn specialists have long recognized the need for and have role modeled a comprehensive approach incorporating relief of distress as part of care during critical illness. More recently, palliative care specialists have become part of the healthcare team in many U.S.

Utilization of palliative care services for cardiac arrest patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Palliative care (PC) services are integral to the care of patients with advanced medical illnesses. Given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac arrest, we sought to measure the use and impact of PC in the care of patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 317 consecutive patients undergoing TH after cardiac arrest.

Creating New Opportunities to Educate Families on the Impact of Frailty and Cognitive Impairment in a Trauma Intensive Care Unit: Results of a Quality Improvement Project.

Background: Older adults comprise a rapidly growing proportion of admissions to acute care hospitals and trauma centers. Older adults admitted to a trauma intensive care unit (TICU) often have a more complicated inpatient and posthospital course. This is the most pronounced in frail elders with cognitive dysfunction.

Heartland virus-associated death in tennessee.

Background: Heartland virus (HRTV) is a tick-borne phlebovirus recently described in Missouri that is associated with fever, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The virus has also been detected in Ambylomma americanum ticks.

Methods: Here we report the first fatal case of HRTV disease in an 80-year-old Tennessee resident.

Senior adult oncology, version 2.2014: clinical practice guidelines in oncology .

Cancer is the leading cause of death in older adults aged 60 to 79 years. The biology of certain cancers and responsiveness to therapy changes with the patient's age. Advanced age alone should not preclude the use of effective treatment that could improve quality of life or extend meaningful survival.