News
More patients getting palliative care at the right time as a result of St. John Health - Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life Project
July 8, 2009
The number of patients seen by the palliative care team has almost tripled since 2005 at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. Patients are also receiving this care earlier in their hospital stay.
These are just a few of the findings from an evaluationof the three-year St. John Health (SJH) and Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life (ICEOL) Collaboration for Palliative Care.
“Results of this project are impressive,” said ICEOL Director, Richard Payne, M.D. “SJH has shown us that patients and families benefit when health systems make palliative care a priority. Providing palliative care in hospital settings is no longer an option when it comes to providing quality patient care.”
Other results of the project include:
- A system-wide policy at St. John Health stating all hospital patients are to receive screening for palliative care needs within 24 hours of admission.
- New palliative care “triggers” built into the patient assessment and reassessment process at two SJH hospitals.
- Over 1000 SJH associates trained in basics of palliative care.
- Over 500 Detroit-area faith community leaders educated about palliative care needs and services available in the community.
- Integration of palliative care and spiritual care services to assure access to spiritual support for patients with serious illness and their families.
- New policies requiring St. John Health spiritual care providers to demonstrate competency in palliative care.
The St. John Health and Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life Collaboration for Palliative Care grew out of a shared commitment to improve the care of individuals with chronic, life-threatening illnesses. The goal was to increase the quality of and access to comprehensive palliative care, meaning fully integrated spiritual, clinical and psychosocial care, for all SJH patients. The project operated from May 2006 through April 2009.
Palliative care is a medical specialty focused on optimizing quality of life for patients with serious illnesses and their families through the treatment of the sources of suffering including spiritual distress, pain, and other debilitating symptoms. It is provided by an interdisciplinary team and along with symptom management, helps patients and families make medical decisions and choose treatments that are in line with their goals. Palliative care is often delivered at the same time that patients are receiving curative treatments.
According to a 2008 report from the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), 47% of hospitals with over 50 beds have palliative care programs. In 2008, the National Quality Forum’s National Priority Partnership named palliative care one of six “National Priorities” for health care reform in an effort to eliminate waste, harm, and disparities to create and expand world-class, patient-centered, affordable healthcare.
St. John Health, Southeast Michigan’s largest health care provider, comprises seven hospitals plus more than 125 medical facilities. Every year, St. John Health touches thousands of lives in southeast Michigan providing services to treat cardiac, cancer, obstetrics, neurological, orthopedics, physical rehabilitation, behavioral medicine, surgical, emergency and urgent care needs. See more at www.stjohn.org.