• Tania M Shelby-James, David C Currow, Paddy A Phillips, Helena Williams, and Amy P Abernethy.
• Southern Adelaide Palliative Services, Repatriation General Hospital, South Australia.
• Aust Fam Physician. 2007 Nov 1;36(11):961-4.

BackgroundWhat are the characteristics of case conferences between general practitioners and specialised palliative care services (SPCS)?MethodsStudy participants were adults (N=461) with pain in the preceding 3 months who were referred to a SPCS and their GPs (N=230). Patients were randomised to case conferences or routine care by SPCS.ResultsOne hundred and sixty-seven conferences were held; 46 patients withdrew and 142 died before the conference could be conducted. Medicare payment was requested for 72 (43%) conferences. Median time from randomisation to case conference was 52 days (SD: 55), and from case conference to death/end of study was 79 days (SD: 166). Twenty-five percent of conferences had over three health professionals participant; patients and/or their caregivers participated in 91%. Average conference duration was 39 minutes (SD: 13). Mean conference length did not increase when more health professionals were present (3 vs. >3, 39 [SD: 14] vs. 42 [SD 11] minutes, p=0.274), nor when patients/caregivers were present (present vs. absent, 39 [SD: 13] vs. 44 [SD: 14] minutes, p=0.159).DiscussionCase conferencing involving SPCS, the GP, other health professionals and the patient can be an efficient part of routine care.

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