Journal of oncology practice
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To test a simultaneous care model for palliative care for patients with advanced cancer by embedding a palliative care nurse practitioner (NP) in an oncology clinic. ⋯ An embedded palliative care NP model using scalable implementation strategies can improve advance care planning and hospice use among patients with advanced cancer.
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Early palliative care (PC) improves outcomes for outpatients with advanced cancer. Its effect on hospitalized patients with cancer is unknown. Herein, we report on the influence of a novel, fully integrated inpatient medical oncology and PC partnership at a tertiary medical center during its first year of implementation. ⋯ A fully integrated inpatient partnership between PC and medical oncology is associated with significant and clinically meaningful improvements in key health system-related outcomes and indicators of quality cancer care.
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Palliative care (PC) has been shown to improve the quality of care and resource utilization for inpatients. We examined the relationship between PC consultation before and during final admission and patterns of care for dying patients at our tertiary cancer center. ⋯ In this retrospective cohort of patients with solid tumor dying in hospital, few patients received cancer-directed therapies at the end of life. Involvement of PC was associated with a decrease in diagnostic testing and other services not clearly promoting comfort as patients approached death.
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Advance care planning (ACP) in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is challenging, given the potential for cure despite increased morbidity and mortality risk.The aim of this study was to evaluate ACP and palliative care (PC) integration for patients who underwent HSCT. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the largest single-center study of ACP and PC integration for patients who underwent HSCT. Code status documentation in the outpatient setting was low, as well as utilization of PC and hospice services.