Melissa A Bender1, Caroline Hurd2, Nicole Solvang3, Kathy Colagrossi2, Diane Matsuwaka4, J Randall Curtis2. 1. 1 University of Washington School of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center , Seattle, Washington. 2. 2 Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine , Seattle, Washington. 3. 3 University of Washington Medical Center , Seattle, Washington. 4. 4 Pharmacy Informatics, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are few published comfort care order sets for end-of-life symptom management, contributing to variability in treatment of common symptoms. At our academic medical centers, we have observed that rapid titration of opioid infusions using our original comfort care order set's titration algorithm causes increased discomfort from opioid toxicity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the process and outcomes of a multiyear revision of a standardized comfort care order set for clinicians to treat end-of-life symptoms in hospitalized patients. DESIGN: Our revision process included interdisciplinary group meetings, literature review and expert consultation, beta testing protocols with end users, and soliciting feedback from key committees at our institutions. We focused on opioid dosing and embedding treatment algorithms and guidelines within the order set for clinicians. SETTING: The study was conducted at two large academic medical centers. RESULTS: We developed and implemented a comfort care order set with opioid dosing that reflects current pharmacologic principles and expert recommendations. Educational tools and reference materials are embedded within the order set in the electronic medical record. There are prompts for improved collaboration between ordering clinicians, nurses, and palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully developed a new comfort care order set at our institutions that can serve as a resource for others. Further evaluation of this order set is needed.
BACKGROUND: There are few published comfort care order sets for end-of-life symptom management, contributing to variability in treatment of common symptoms. At our academic medical centers, we have observed that rapid titration of opioid infusions using our original comfort care order set's titration algorithm causes increased discomfort from opioid toxicity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the process and outcomes of a multiyear revision of a standardized comfort care order set for clinicians to treat end-of-life symptoms in hospitalized patients. DESIGN: Our revision process included interdisciplinary group meetings, literature review and expert consultation, beta testing protocols with end users, and soliciting feedback from key committees at our institutions. We focused on opioid dosing and embedding treatment algorithms and guidelines within the order set for clinicians. SETTING: The study was conducted at two large academic medical centers. RESULTS: We developed and implemented a comfort care order set with opioid dosing that reflects current pharmacologic principles and expert recommendations. Educational tools and reference materials are embedded within the order set in the electronic medical record. There are prompts for improved collaboration between ordering clinicians, nurses, and palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully developed a new comfort care order set at our institutions that can serve as a resource for others. Further evaluation of this order set is needed.
Entities:
Keywords:
comfort care order set; comfort care protocol; end-of-life care pathway
Authors: Suzanne S Dickerson; Siri GuruNam Khalsa; Kathleen McBroom; Dianne White; Mary Ann Meeker Journal: Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being Date: 2022-12