Characteristics of the last hospital stay in terminal patients at an acute care hospital in Colombia.
In Colombia, most palliative care is provided in acute care hospitals. In those settings, a palliative care approach could be limited because of a disease-oriented approach instead of patient-centered care.


OBJECTIVE
To know the framework of a typical Colombian university hospital that provides palliative care services.


METHODS
In a retrospective manner, the medical records of deceased patients during 2006 were revisited.


RESULTS
Most patients were not treated by palliative care specialists, so curative-oriented treatment were common among these patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In acute hospitals, palliative care teams should participate in the care of patients at the start of treatment.
Moyano
Jairo
J
Anaesthesia Department, Pain Clinic, Fundación Santafé de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia. Jairo_moyano@hotmail.com
Zambrano
Sofía
S
Mayungo
Tatiana
T
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult