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February 2007

Pain-The Most Common and Feared Symptom of Hospital Patients

Today, patients are becoming health consumers with demands for high standards of care and an active role in their treatment. Hospitals are expected to deliver a high level of care, especially in the areas of pain and symptom management. The most common and feared symptom of all hospital patients is pain. Patients want a voice in their care today, including a vigorous plan of care and treatment for their pain and symptoms. They want on-going, clear communication with their health care providers and physicians so they know what to expect and how to plan for their care in the future.

With the complexities of today’s health care system and growing medical needs of the chronically ill, well-communicated and coordinated levels of care comes required staff time and effort. Palliative care programs are shown to help hospital staff provide this level of care patients demand while increasing staff job satisfaction and retention.

There is an increasing need to provide palliative care services to patients that are receiving life-prolonging or curative treatments. Palliative care programs provide a systematic approach to help care for the needs of your patients. Leading hospitals recognize the challenge of providing quality care for the seriously ill in the hospital setting. These programs help match patient needs with the appropriate health care resources that are nearing the last stages of life. They work together with hospice programs to coordinate care for appropriate patients. Patients who have received palliative care as part of their overall plan of care have a higher satisfaction with their physicians, health care team and hospital.  Patients with serious illness want the type of services that palliative care provides. By reducing their pain and fear of pain, patients experience relief from worry, anxiety and depression. 

Untreated pain not only results in fear, increased anxiety and depression, it also leads to medical complications. These can include increased length of stay, unnecessary suffering, an increased use of health care resources and, more importantly, decreased patient satisfaction. Palliative care programs effectively treat and manage over 90% of pain episodes. One goal of a palliative care program is to ensure patients do not suffer uncontrolled symptoms. Palliative care programs help hospitals meet pain and other quality standards developed by the Joint Commission.

Developing a palliative care program in your hospital is a relatively low start-up investment that can have an immediate impact on the quality of care you deliver. The costs of a palliative care program more than offset the benefits, especially because they improve clinical outcomes. This type of program improves clinical outcomes by relieving pain and distressing symptoms; increasing communication with patients, families and physicians; and helping patients complete their life-prolonging or curative treatments. Studies show palliative care also controls fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, pain and other symptoms of distress. 

The hospital of today and of the future must be prepared to meet the needs of patients. With an aging population, hospitals are filling fast with seriously ill and frail adults. It is expected by the year 2030 the number of people in the U.S over the age of 85 will double to 8.5 million.  Is your hospital ready to meet the needs of these patients while successfully delivering a level of quality care that is cost-effective? Will you be able to remain fiscally viable? Modern medicine today is allowing people with chronic and advanced illness to live longer. Palliative care is vital for achieving the goal of excellent and cost-effective care. Best of all, palliative care patients report feeling their care has been monitored closely and was well-communicated compared to patients that are not receiving palliative care. Providing quality patient-centered care leads to increased patient and family satisfaction with the services provided, and this builds loyalty to your hospital.

Briggs has a new hospice documentation program. This is an integrated system for patient-centered care. From in-take and risk assessments, to medication profiles and bereavement follow-up, Briggs Documentation System manual and forms work together to support all levels of care, including in-patient. Turn to Briggs for comprehensive hospice documentation that will guide your staff in determining the need for hospice care and clearly documents the level of care provided. Click here to learn more and view the new in-patient hospice forms.

Source: www.capc.org/building-a-hospital-based-palliative-care-program/case/

Phyllis Bouley, L.P.N., A.S.
Clinical Project Consultant, Briggs Corporation

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