Early integration of palliative care in patients with terminal cancer prognosis

Abstract

Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death in the United States, with a significant portion of patients facing terminal diagnoses and symptom burdens. Despite advancement in cancer treatments, early integration of palliative care remains a challenge, often resulting in delayed referrals and unmet patient needs. This quality improvement initiative focuses on screening all new oncology patients using a distress thermometer tool to identify those suitable for early palliative care involvement. A standardized process is implemented to offer referrals to palliative care services for patients with terminal diagnoses and positive screening results Over a six-week data collection period, 88 new oncology consult appointments were made, with 25% identified as appropriate for palliative care referral. The distress screening tool was completed by an average of 93.3% of patients. Of those appropriate for palliative care, 72.9% were offered a referral, and 43.9% were referred to palliative care. Notably, 100% of referred patients received an initial consult with palliative care within the project timeframe, exceeding the set goals. Early integration of palliative care for terminal cancer patients is crucial for improving quality of life and reducing symptom burden. Standardized screening tools and referral process can facilitate early involvement, although barriers such as patient refusal and provider hesitancy still exist. Effective multidisciplinary communication and patient education are key components in ensuring successful early palliative care integration. Continued efforts in screening, referral, and education are recommended to address these barriers and enhance the quality of care for patients facing terminal cancer diagnoses.