Palliative Care Commons^™

What’S Happening To Our Patients In Their Final Year Of Life?, Teresa Letellier, Amy Haskins, Christina Holt

Maine Medical Center

We want to “die well” which includes:

• Effective symptom management

• Receiving care consistent with wishes Who achieves this, and how?

• Primary care physicians (PCPs) – Insufficient time and training

• Palliative care physicians – Better quality care and decreased health care cost in last years of life

• “Surprise Question” – “Would you be surprised if this patient dies in the next year?”

• To recognize our sickest patients and discuss goals of care and consult palliative care, if appropriate • “Advance care planning tab” – To record code status, advance directive, POLST forms, medical power of …