New Inpatient Unit Focuses on Intensive Palliative Care
New
Palliative Care Leader Chosen
Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have assembled
a team of experienced clinicians to offer cancer patients intensive relief from
suffering.
The Acute Palliative Care Unit (APCU), a family-focused, pilot program for
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, opens in September as the
first of its kind in Massachusetts. Janet Abrahm, MD, and David Giansiracusa,
MD, are serving as co-directors of the unit (see related story), designed to handle
complex cases that cannot be managed at home. The aim is to reduce discomfort
while enhancing quality of life for patients and their families.
“This provides a unique opportunity for an interdisciplinary team of
caregivers to coordinate efforts and alleviate physical, emotional and spiritual
suffering,” Giansiracusa said.
As part of the change, six of the 12 beds within the general oncology unit
on 5A are now designated for the APCU. Nurses care for all 12 patients, but also
serve on a palliative care team with a dedicated pharmacist, chaplain and social
worker. The team collaborates with each patient’s oncologist to ensure continuity
of care, and a “team room” is available on the unit for meetings and
discussions.
The new unit will enable BWH to measure outcomes for centralized palliative
care. “Our care for patients in need of palliative care has traditionally
been dispersed throughout the hospital, but recent medical literature says it
should be centralized,” explained Dianne Cerce, BWH’s executive director
for oncology services. “A unit that focuses on palliative care is advantageous
both medically and financially because care is provided more efficiently and patients
have shorter stays. We hope to expand this service beyond cancer to other specialties,”she
added.