Instituting a Palliative Care Trigger in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU): Survey Results of SICU Team Members.

Publication/Presentation Date

8-1-2024

Abstract

Increasing palliative care presence in the intensive care unit (ICU) improves symptom management, increases goals-of-care discussion, and reduces unnecessary procedures in ICU patients. An interdisciplinary study team developed a palliative care trigger program in a 17-bed surgical ICU (SICU). Surgical ICU patients who met 3 triggers (ICU length of stay > 10 days, repeat ICU admission, and metastatic cancer) automatically received a palliative care consult. The purpose of the current study was to survey SICU health care professionals before and after the institution of the palliative care trigger program. Overall, the palliative care trigger program was viewed positively by interdisciplinary team members with increased team communication and decreased resistance for the inclusion of palliative care in the SICU plan of care. The palliative care trigger program was successfully developed and implemented in a SICU and was accepted by the interdisciplinary team members caring for SICU patients. Team member feedback is being used to expand the palliative care trigger program to improve care for SICU patients.

Volume

26

Issue

4

First Page

107

Last Page

107

ISSN

1539-0705

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

38631043

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS