Lasting, meaningful change in the way care is provided to patients near the end of life in New York City hospitals is possible - but challenging and difficult to implement, according to a report released this summer by the Hospital Palliative Care Initiative of the United Hospital Fund (UHF). The report, Building Hospital Palliative Care Programs: Lessons from the Field, describes the collective experiences of five New York City hospitals funded to develop clinical palliative services to manage pain and symptoms, and to address emotional and other needs of terminally ill patients and their families.
In New York City, nearly seven out of 10 deaths occur in hospitals, but few hospitals provide comprehensive end-of-life care to assist patients who are close to death. Those factors led the UHF to develop and support the Hospital Palliative Care Initiative from 1995-99 to help hospitals develop an array of appropriate palliative care services.
"Few health care issues have been documented more clearly than the need to improve care at the end of life," said James R. Tallon, Jr., UHF president. "We have learned through our pilot effort with several hospitals how complex and difficult the work can be. But we are also optimistic that hospitals-each in its own way-can rise to the challenge and make a significant difference in enhancing palliative care through a variety of programs and initiatives."
The report describes the strengths, limitations, and common challenges of the palliative care programs developed by the five hospitals: Beth Israel Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Mount Sinai Hospital, Saint Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center of New York, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, and the Montefiore Medical Center. (Several of these have been highlighted in previous issues of Exchange; previous issues are available at www.abcd-caring.org). These programs were intended to serve as useful models for other hospitals and institutions seeking to develop palliative care services. Key lessons from the programs profiled include the following:
As an outgrowth of the Hospital Palliative Care Initiative, the Fund last year launched the Community-Oriented Palliative Care Initiative. This $2.1 million initiative, now underway in six New York City communities, responds to the lack of coordination and gaps in crucial services for terminally ill patients, their families, and caregivers. Its goal is to create innovative community palliative care networks that involve partnerships of hospitals, hospices, long-term care agencies, home care agencies, and community organizations to address the needs of patients with chronic, progressive, life-threatening illnesses throughout the end-of-life process.
Order Building Hospital Palliative Care Programs: Lessons from the Field from the United Hospital Fund for $20, plus $3.50 per copy for postage and handling.
For information, call toll free (888) 291-4161 or visit on the Web at www.uhfnyc.org.
<<< Previous Next >>> [ Go Up ]