Building a Palliative Care Program from the Inside Out
Using existing resources within an out-patient comprehensive community cancer center, this palliative care model of care has led to improved outcomes, including fewer ER visits, reduced ICU admissions and end-of-life chemotherapy and an increase in timely referral to hospice. The Kaufman Cancer Center integrated a comprehensive strategy that included establishing weekly palliative care case conferences, developing a group of palliative care experts within the multidisciplinary oncology team, and coordinating timely proactive goals of care meetings with patients and families. See how this replicable patient-centered model enables programs with limited resources to incorporate early palliative care into cancer treatment.