Administrative Outcomes Five Years after Opening an Acute Palliative Care Unit at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Abstract

Setting and adhering to administrative targets for an APCU is possible with appropriate admission criteria, adequate community resources, and education of patients, families and health professionals regarding the model of care.

The Transplant Palliative Care Clinic: An early palliative care model for patients in a transplant program

“…The palliative care program at UHN spans all four hospitals and includes palliative care clinics (oncology, transplant, cardiology, pulmonary hypertension, movement disorders), inpatient consultation teams, a 12‐bed acute oncology palliative care unit, a 10‐bed community inpatient palliative care unit, and a 10‐bed residential hospice. The palliative care team provides consultations for all hospital inpatient units including general internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, intensive care, and the transplantation unit.…”

Communication and Quality of Care on Palliative Care Units: A Qualitative Study

“…Princess Margaret is a large comprehensive cancer center, with a 12-bed oncology PCU with an average stay of 11 days. 16 St. Michael's Hospital is an urban acute care research and teaching hospital, housing a 10-bed PCU for oncology and nononcology patients with an average stay of 17 days. Toronto East General Hospital is a full-service community teaching hospital; its PCU has 16 beds for oncology and nononcology patients, with an average length of stay of 30 days.…”

Factors Influencing Survival after Discharge from an Australian Palliative Care Unit to Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Retrospective Audit

“…Interdisciplinary and typically located within tertiary cancer care centers, they have a focus on rapid symptom stabilization, comprehensive psychosocial care, and timely discharge planning. [10][11][12][13][14] Distinction is made between an APCU and the more traditional PCU/hospice on a number of levels including shorter lengths of stay (typically days to 2 weeks), lower inpatient mortality (most < 50%), and an academic mandate for education and research. In Australia although most PCUs continue to provide both short and where necessary longer-term care, this occurs within the context of increasing admission requests 3 and consequent pressure to avoid protracted lengths of stay.…”