Faculty Collaboration Database

Integration of a palliative care specialist in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic: Observations from one center. Muscle Nerve 2019 Aug;60(2):137-140

Date

06/07/2019

Pubmed ID

31172537

DOI

10.1002/mus.26607

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85067896426 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   40 Citations

Abstract

Palliative care specialists can aid in the care of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this article, we describe our 1-year experience incorporating a palliative care specialist into the ALS multidisciplinary team. We describe our integration model, patient selection, and visit content. Of 500 total clinic patients, 74 (14.8%) were seen by the palliative care specialist in 1 year. Referral was most often triggered by advance care planning needs (91%). In the initial visit with the palliative care specialist, topics most frequently covered included goals of care (84%), anxiety/depression (35%), and medical decision-making about feeding tubes (27%) or tracheostomy (31%). Symptom management comprised a relatively small number of the visits, and duration of visits was limited by patient fatigue. Patients with complex goals of care may benefit from the input of a palliative care specialist, and unique integration models may help to facilitate care delivery. Muscle Nerve 60: 137-140, 2019.

Author List

Brizzi K, Paganoni S, Zehm A, De Marchi F, Berry JD

Author

April Zehm MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Advance Care Planning
Ambulatory Care
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Anxiety
Decision Making
Delivery of Health Care
Depression
Enteral Nutrition
Humans
Palliative Medicine
Patient Care Planning
Patient Care Team
Patient Selection
Referral and Consultation
Tracheostomy