ED management : the monthly update on emergency department management
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As the benefits of palliative care become more evident in clinical trials, there is growing interest in making such resources available to patients at an earlier stage, such as the ED. However, experts note that emergency staff first must identify available resources and make sure that providers have the primary palliative care skills needed to effectively introduce the topic to appropriate patients and families. ⋯ For EDs that lack resources in house, experts advise staff to form partnerships with hospices in the community; some offer sophisticated services and will come to the ED to evaluate patients. Emergency staff should establish flexible criteria to identify when palliative care is an appropriate option to introduce to patients and families.