At a glance
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Palliative Care Consultations for Persons in the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Setting
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Palliative Care Consultation for Palliative Care and 2 related conditions. Completed, enrolled 45 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Close to one-third of Medicare decedents use the Medicare skilled nursing facility (SNF) benefit in the 6 months prior to death. SNF care often increases the risk for more aggressive, potentially burdensome treatments and unrecognized or undertreated symptoms. Palliative care is goal-directed, patient and family-centered care that focuses on a wide range of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs for persons with serious, life-limiting illnesses. Effective palliative care relieves suffering, enhances communication, and improves end-of-life care and decision making for seriously ill older adults. Despite its association with improved quality of care, higher satisfaction, and better symptom management at the end of life, palliative care is not widely available to Medicare patients in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) setting. Palliative care consultation (PCC) is one approach that can potentially improve care for older adults with advanced illness in SNFs. This pilot study will test an evidence-based palliative care consult intervention for older adult SNF patients in nursing homes by comparing the patient/family caregiver reported quality of life in two participant groups: one receiving a PCC and the other receiving standard care.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
Trained provider will discuss illness trajectories, establish and communicate patient-directed goals that guide health care decisions, identify and treat illness-related symptoms, and identify psycho-spiritual needs and approaches to mitigate suffering.