Carol W Babcock1, Larry E Robinson. 1. Center for Palliative Care/Transitions, Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon, Georgia 31201, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A large tertiary hospital in central Georgia has found a novel approach to hospital palliative care. APPROACH: It is unique in that the approach has a strong counseling base in providing the palliative service, rather than major reliance on advance practice nurses or palliative physicians. The Medical Center of Central Georgia employs master's prepared counselors who spend the hours needed to assist families in making difficult end-of-life decisions. MODEL: Using a family systems therapy approach, these counselors have developed the Transitions and Palliative Care Therapy Model, which has proved to be a successful means of providing the services. The model includes the "7 Core Components of Communication and Decision Making," which gives the counselors actual interventions to use in working through these complex cases. OUTCOMES: The growth of the program over 7 years is staggering with the outcomes far exceeding even the predicted volume from the Center to Advance Palliative Care. CONCLUSIONS: The model has the counselor at the heart of the team, keeping the communication open and flowing. The Transitions and Palliative Care Therapy Model has become an accepted standard of practice at Medical Center of Central Georgia and continues to be a successful means of managing the most complex cases in the hospital.
BACKGROUND: A large tertiary hospital in central Georgia has found a novel approach to hospital palliative care. APPROACH: It is unique in that the approach has a strong counseling base in providing the palliative service, rather than major reliance on advance practice nurses or palliative physicians. The Medical Center of Central Georgia employs master's prepared counselors who spend the hours needed to assist families in making difficult end-of-life decisions. MODEL: Using a family systems therapy approach, these counselors have developed the Transitions and Palliative Care Therapy Model, which has proved to be a successful means of providing the services. The model includes the "7 Core Components of Communication and Decision Making," which gives the counselors actual interventions to use in working through these complex cases. OUTCOMES: The growth of the program over 7 years is staggering with the outcomes far exceeding even the predicted volume from the Center to Advance Palliative Care. CONCLUSIONS: The model has the counselor at the heart of the team, keeping the communication open and flowing. The Transitions and Palliative Care Therapy Model has become an accepted standard of practice at Medical Center of Central Georgia and continues to be a successful means of managing the most complex cases in the hospital.
Authors: Kelly Nicole Michelson; Rachna Patel; Natalie Haber-Barker; Linda Emanuel; Joel Frader Journal: Pediatr Crit Care Med Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 3.624