title: A Home-Based Palliative Care Consult Service for Veterans.
abstract: We describe the development and implementation of a home-based palliative care consult service for Veterans with advanced illness. A retrospective chart review was performed on 73 Veterans who received a home-based palliative care consult. Nearly one-third were 80 years of age or older, and nearly one-third had a palliative diagnosis of cancer. The most common interventions of the consult team included discussion of advance directives, completion of a "do not resuscitate" form, reduction/stoppage of at least 1 medication, explanation of diagnosis, referral to home-based primary care program, referral to hospice, and assessment/support for caregiver stress. The home-based consult service was therefore able to address clinical and psychosocial issues that can demonstrate a direct benefit to Veterans, families, and referring clinicians.
authors.affiliation: University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Orlando, FL, USA adam.golden@ucf.edu.
authors.forename: Adam G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.affiliation: Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Orlando, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antoni
authors.affiliation: University of Central Florida, College of Health and Public Affairs, Orlando, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gammonley
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans
keywords: advanced illness; end of life; home care; hospice; palliative care; veterans