@article{9edd40a9842747279bce6f183a65f028,
title = "Integrating palliative care in the out-of-hospital setting: Four things to jump-start an EMS-palliative care initiative",
abstract = "Emergency medical service (EMS) is frequently called to care for a seriously ill patient with a life-threatening or life-limiting illness. The seriously ill include both the acutely injured patients (for example in mass casualty events) and those who suffer from advanced stages of a chronic disease (for example severe malignant pain). EMS therefore plays an important role in delivering realistic, appropriate, and timely care that is consistent with the patient's wishes and in treating distressing symptoms in those who are seriously ill. The purpose of this article is to; 1) review four case scenarios that relate to palliative care and may be commonly encountered in the out-of-hospital setting and 2) provide a road map by suggesting four things to do to start an EMS-palliative care initiative in order to optimize out-of-hospital care of the seriously ill and increase preparedness of EMS providers in these difficult situations.",
keywords = "Collaboration, emergency medical service, integration, out of hospital, palliative care",
author = "Sangeeta Lamba and Schmidt, {Terri A.} and Chan, {Garrett K.} and Todd, {Knox H.} and Grudzen, {Corita R.} and Weissman, {David E.} and Quest, {Tammie E.}",
note = "Funding Information: This manuscript is a result of ongoing work from the Improving Palliative Care in Emergency Medicine (IPAL-EM) collaborative effort.13 The IPAL–EM project was initiated by the Center to Advance Palliative Care with funding from the Olive Branch Foundation to improve palliative care integration in EM along the entire continuum of care.13 In this article, we discuss (1) commonly encountered clinical case presentations that highlight the imminent need for a palliative care and EMS collaboration, (2) the main domains of palliative care relevant to EMS and, (3) guidance for administrators, faculty, and EMS providers interested in integrating and designing EMS-palliative care protocols. We also outline practical steps for organizing an initiative to succeed and endure in improving palliative care for patients and their families in the out-of-hospital care setting by specifically discussing the four things to do in order to jump-start such a collaborative initiative (Table 1).",
year = "2013",
month = oct,
doi = "10.3109/10903127.2013.811566",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "17",
pages = "511--520",
journal = "Prehospital Emergency Care",
issn = "1090-3127",
publisher = "Informa Healthcare",
number = "4",
}