TY - JOUR
T1 - Should Outpatient Palliative Care Clinics in Cancer Centers be Stand Alone or Embedded?
AU - Zimmermann, Camilla
AU - Buss, Mary K.
AU - Rabow, Michael W.
AU - Hannon, Breffni
AU - Hui, David
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - Outpatient palliative care facilitates timely symptom management, psychosocial care and care planning. A growing number of cancer centers have either stand-alone or embedded outpatient palliative care clinics. In this “Controversies in Palliative Care” article, three groups of thought leaders independently answer this question. Specifically, each group provides a synopsis of the key studies that inform their thought processes, share practical advice on their clinical approach, and highlight the opportunities for future research. One group advocates for stand-alone clinics, another for embedded, and the third group tries to find a balance. In the absence of evidence that directly compares the two models, factors such as cancer center size, palliative care team composition, clinic space availability, and financial considerations may drive the decision-making process at each institution. Stand-alone clinics may be more appropriate for larger academic cancer centers or palliative care programs with a more comprehensive interdisciplinary team, while embedded clinics may be more suited for smaller palliative care programs or community oncology programs to stimulate referrals. As outpatient clinic models continue to evolve, investigators need to document the referral and patient outcomes to inform practice.
AB - Outpatient palliative care facilitates timely symptom management, psychosocial care and care planning. A growing number of cancer centers have either stand-alone or embedded outpatient palliative care clinics. In this “Controversies in Palliative Care” article, three groups of thought leaders independently answer this question. Specifically, each group provides a synopsis of the key studies that inform their thought processes, share practical advice on their clinical approach, and highlight the opportunities for future research. One group advocates for stand-alone clinics, another for embedded, and the third group tries to find a balance. In the absence of evidence that directly compares the two models, factors such as cancer center size, palliative care team composition, clinic space availability, and financial considerations may drive the decision-making process at each institution. Stand-alone clinics may be more appropriate for larger academic cancer centers or palliative care programs with a more comprehensive interdisciplinary team, while embedded clinics may be more suited for smaller palliative care programs or community oncology programs to stimulate referrals. As outpatient clinic models continue to evolve, investigators need to document the referral and patient outcomes to inform practice.
KW - Ambulatory care facilities
KW - Delivery of health care
KW - Neoplasms
KW - Outpatients
KW - Palliative care
KW - Referral and consultation
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.11.008
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.11.008
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 36437178
AN - SCOPUS:85143626645
SN - 0885-3924
VL - 65
SP - e165-e170
JO - Journal of pain and symptom management
JF - Journal of pain and symptom management
IS - 2
ER -