Palliative Medicine Consultation Reduces Length of Stay, Improves Symptom Management, and Clarifies Advance Directives in the Geriatric Trauma Population.
The impact of Palliative Medicine Consultation (PMC) on geriatric trauma patients' outcomes was evaluated. It was hypothesized that patients with PMC would have a shorter length of stay. Patients aged 65 years or older and admitted to trauma services were analyzed. Patients with a PMC were more likely to have a documented advance directive discussion (P < .001) and a code status update (P < .001). Length of stay was reduced for patients with a PMC on or before trauma day 2 compared to those with a PMC after trauma day 2. Palliative Medicine should be consulted early into a geriatric patient's hospital stay.
St Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Youngstown, Ohio (Mss Kupensky, Hileman, and Chance); and Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Gerontology, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio (Mr Emerick).
Diane
D
Kupensky
Barbara M
BM
Hileman
Eric S
ES
Emerick
Elisha A
EA
Chance
D016223:Advance Directives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D065126:Palliative Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration