• Robert Zalenski, Cheryl Courage, Alexandra Edelen, Denise Waselewsky, Hicham Krayem, Jordana Latozas, and David Kaufman.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Palliative Care, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
• BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2014 Sep 1;4(3):254-62.

BackgroundThere are currently no comprehensive studies in critical care settings that have set out to examine the association of palliative care screening criteria with multiple, adverse patient outcomes.MethodsA 7-item palliative care screen was developed from consensus reports. Medical intensive care unit (MICU) nurses at four hospitals screened patients upon admission during a 16-week period. Outcomes included percentage of patients screened and their percentage with consultations ordered. Patient screen scores were compared with mortality, hospice discharge and length of stay (LOS).ResultsDuring the period, 1071 patients were admitted to MICUs, of which, 59.3% were screened; 35.3% of patients screened positive. Patients with positive screens (n=225) were more likely to have a consult ordered (33.6% vs 3.4%; p<0.001), and likelihood of consult increased with higher screen scores. Patients with positive screens had significantly longer hospital and MICU LOS (p<0.001), and had increased risk of inpatient mortality (p<0.001) and hospice discharge (p<0.001). Criteria of 'admission from a skilled nursing facility' and 'readmission to the ICU' were significant predictors of LOS; 'cancer,' 'post cardiac arrest,' and 'team perceived need' were predictors of the composite variable of mortality/hospice discharge. 'End-stage dementia' and 'intracranial bleed' were not predictive of adverse outcomes.ConclusionsDecisions on the appropriateness for palliative care consultation in the MICU can be aided using a trigger screen. We recommend the use of this screen be considered in the MICU with the suggested revisions. Additional studies are needed to determine if the use of the trigger screen is associated with improved clinical outcomes.Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

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