Healthcare Quarterly
Factors that Delay Transfers from Acute Care to a Local Palliative Care Unit
Abstract
For patients desiring end-of-life care in a palliative care unit, ensuring a safe and timely transfer while reducing length of stay in acute care is optimal. A chart review of 130 patients was completed on those who either died in acute care or were transferred to a palliative care unit. In all, 31% of patients died in acute care and 69% were transferred to a palliative care unit. Barriers impacting a timely transfer included disposition planning, behavioural changes requiring monitoring, imminently dying patients and those awaiting medical assistance in dying. This article makes clinical recommendations to address these barriers.
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