Palliative Aspects of Emergency Care

The process of patients with advanced illnesses entering the emergency department is fraught with uncertainty for both patients and medical providers. Yet, there is a lack of definitive and accessible resources which provide immediate guidance for the care of these patients. Palliative Aspects of Emergency Care is a practical guide designed to fill this void. From the paramedic struggling with difficult and/or conflicting information in the home through the palliative care specialist trying to interface effectively with the emergency department, this user-friendly handbook offers practical help from experts in the interdependent fields of Emergency Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. This evidenced-based book covers the prognostication and assessment of relevant, advanced-illness clinical problems, the management of symptoms, and the physical and spiritual treatment of palliative patients in the emergency department through their last hours of living. Also included are chapters focusing on hospice care, communication techniques, and the legal and ethical issues of palliative care in the emergency department. This guide is a must-have resource for clinicians looking for concise, point-of-care information, and for hospital administrators working to address palliative care needs in emergency departments through best practice recommendations.

Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Palliative Care; Associate Fellowship Director, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia