Improving a mature palliative care program at a Level I trauma center.
In 2018, a Level I trauma center in the Midwest reviewed the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program's Palliative Care Best Practice Guideline to identify opportunities for improvement to strengthen the collaboration between the palliative care consult service and trauma program.
Similar to the significant rise in the geriatric population in the United States, trauma centers have seen an increase in geriatric trauma patients. These patients present with additional challenges such as a higher likelihood of undertriage, mortality, and frailty. In addition, the varying presence of advanced directive documentation increases the importance of early palliative care consultations for geriatric trauma patients.
Moran ME; Soltis M; Politis T; Gothard MD; George RL
Journal Of Trauma Nursing
2021
© 2021 Society of Trauma Nurses
Journal Article
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In harm's way: Moving the older trauma patient toward a better outcome
geriatric; prevention; medicine; people; Geriatrics & Gerontology; falls; geriatric trauma; primary care management; trauma care
This century will bring an explosion in the geriatric population aged 65 and older, with those over 80 the fastest growing group. Falls, vehicle collisions, burns, and abuse are traumatic events that our geriatric patients may be susceptible to and from which they may not recover. Primary care providers should enhance their understanding of the complex issues of geriatric trauma to facilitate prevention and to assist the patient's recovery to normal function, addressing barriers such as immobility, pain, malnutrition, and acute confusion. Improved outcomes require combined efforts of disciplines and specialties intervening for optimal management for older trauma patients from pre-hospital care through rehabilitation or end-of-life issues.
Campbell J W; DeGolia P A; Fallon W F; Rader E L
Geriatrics
2009
2009-01
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
n/a