The Timing and Route of Transfer for End-of-Life Care in Cancer Patients
10.21215/kjfp.2019.9.1.118
- Author:
Jiyoung RHEE
1
;
Jung Mi KWON
;
Sang Hoon HAN
Author Information
1. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, Korea. splendor97@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Cancer;
End-of-Life Care;
Referral;
Hospice
- MeSH:
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Hospices;
Humans;
Medical Records;
Outpatients;
Palliative Care;
Referral and Consultation;
Retrospective Studies;
Terminal Care
- From:
Korean Journal of Family Practice
2019;9(1):118-121
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: We evaluated the timing and route of arrival of patients with cancer referred to a hospital near their residence for end-of-life care.METHODS: The medical records of patients with cancer receiving palliative systemic treatment at other hospitals who were transferred to our hospital for terminal care were reviewed retrospectively.RESULTS: Records of 60 patients (mean age, 57.4 years) were reviewed. The median survival after transfer was 40 days; 56.3% and 43.3% of the patients were referred to the outpatient and emergency departments of our hospital, respectively. Only 45% of the patients were enrolled in the hospice palliative care system. The most common reason for not enrolling was rejection of the patients or their families for hospice palliative care.CONCLUSION: For end-of-life care, the time from the referral to death was short, and many patients were transferred to the emergency department of our hospital.
