EXPERIENCE WITH AN END-OF-LIFE PRACTICE AT A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Objective: To describe a 10-yr experience with an end-of-life practice in a hospital. Design: A nonexperimental, prospective, descriptive de sign was used to record variables from a convenience sample of patient s transferred to the Comprehensive Supportive Care Team. Setting: Detr oit Receiving Hospital is an urban, university-affiliated, Level I tra uma/emergency hospital. Patients: Patients who are not expected to sur vive hospitalization, and for whom a decision has been made to focus c are on palliative interventions, are candidates for care by this pract ice. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Patient demog raphics, including the following information: age; gender; diagnoses; illness severity; mortality rate; and disposition. Measures of resourc e utilization included: referral sources; Therapeutic Intervention Sco ring System values; bed costs; and length of hospital stay. Satisfacto ry patient/family care with a measurable reduction in the use of resou rces can be achieved in the hospital setting. Conclusions: A hands-on approach to the care of dying patients by this specialty, palliative c are service has provided patients, families, and clinicians with the t ype of support needed for satisfactory end-of-life care. A summary of our experience may be useful to others.