title: Use of Improving Palliative Care in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) Guidelines for a Palliative Care Initiative in an ICU.
abstract: For improved utilization of the existing palliative care team in the intensive care unit (ICU), a process was needed to identify patients who might need a palliative care consultation in a timelier manner.
  
  
  
  A systematic method to create a new program that would be compatible with our specific ICU environment and patient population was developed. A literature review revealed a fairly extensive array of reports and numerous clinical practice guidelines, which were assessed for information and strategies that would be appropriate for our unit.
  
  
  
  The recommendations provided by the Center to Advance Palliative Care from its Improving Palliative Care in the ICU project were used to successfully implement a new palliative care initiative in our ICU.
  
  
  
  The guidelines provided by the Improving Palliative Care in the ICU project were an important tool to direct the development of a new palliative care ICU initiative.
authors.affiliation: Retired Intensive Care Nurse and a current Nurse Practitioner at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI. emun@rehabhospital.org.
authors.forename: Eluned
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.affiliation: Retired Palliative Care and Internal Medicine Physician at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Moanalua in Honolulu, HI. craignakatsuka87@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
authors.affiliation: Intensivist and Pulmonologist at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Moanalua in Honolulu, HI. lillian.a.umbarger@kp.org.
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Umbarger
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Nurse at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Moanalua in Honolulu, HI. rutahealer@aol.com.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruta
authors.affiliation: Clinical Coordinator for the Intensive Care Unit at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Moanalua in Honolulu, HI. tracy.t.mccarty@kp.org.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mccarty
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Nurse at Kaiser Permenente Medical Center at Moanalua in Honolulu, HI. cindymchd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Professor and Department Chair in the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. clem@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: Clementina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ceria-Ulep
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000070659:Patient Comfort; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012017:Referral and Consultation