End of Life Care Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 4 Issue 1

The benefits of interdisciplinary practice in a palliative care setting: A music therapy and physiotherapy pilot project

Source:  Progress in Palliative Care, 19, (6), p.304-308.

Follow this link for abstract.  

Date of publication:  November 2011

Publication type:  article

In a nutshell:  This article discusses a combined music-therapy and physiotherapy project designed to improve symptoms experienced by terminally ill inpatients.  The project used the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI)  prior to the start of the project and again at the end.

With the exception of shortness of breath, results from the ESAS indicated all symptoms on the scale improved as a result of group participation and mobility, as measured by the DEMMI, either maintained or improved.

The overall conclusions are that this project was beneficial for patients with terminal illness and further research is required.

Length of publication:  5 pages

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement:  EMBASE

A narrative literature review of the evidence regarding the economic impact of avoidable hospitalizations amongst palliative care patients in the UK

Source:  Progress in Palliative Care, 19, (6), p291-298.

Follow this link for abstract.   

 Date of publication:  November 2011

Publication type:  article

In a nutshell:  This article provides a narrative review of evidence relating to the potential economic impact of reducing avoidable admissions among palliative care patients in the UK.  A search for evidence on the economic consequences of avoidable hospital admissions among palliative care patients was conducted, and five studies met the inclusion criteria.  The limited evidence showed that avoidable readmission rates are high. The full economic consequences of reducing readmissions however, has not been addressed.  The authors call for more evidence with a focus on the economic implications for community care versus acute care.

Length of publication:  8 pages

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement:  EMBASE

Developing an end-of-life care benchmark in acute care

Source: Nursing Times, 107, (43), p.15-17.

Follow this link for fulltext.

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: article

In a nutshell: Nottingham University Hospitals used the Essence of Care Benchmarking programme to review and improve end-of-life care. The trust developed and implemented its own end-of-life benchmark which provided a baseline of existing practice and greater awareness of standards of best practice in all clinical areas. Benchmark indicators are described and scoring is discussed.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: HMIC

Palliative care in the community: the complexity of service provision

Source: British Journal of Community Nursing 2011 Vol. 16(12), p 574

Follow this link for the abstract of  the article

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: Care of people in the last period of their lives frequently falls to nurses working in primary care. Nurses with different roles, working in various settings, will be involved throughout the patient’s disease trajectory. Familial carers may also have contact with health services in a number of guises, whether it be for their own health, or that of their family member

Length of Publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to follow your local health library.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Outpatient Palliative Care Services in California

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine

Follow this link for the abstract of this article

Date of publication: December 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article describes the prevalence and characteristics of outpatient Palliative Care Services (PCSs) associated with California hospitals to enhance an understanding of how outpatient PCSs are delivered and inform their growth and development.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.

Involving older people in commissioning: more power to their elbow?

Source: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Follow this link for the full report

Date of publication: December 2011

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This research set out to investigate what happens when older people are given the opportunity to shape service commissioning and delivery. The study also raises wider questions about the impact of their involvement, particularly whether it can change the nature of local power relations in the long term.

Length of publication: 76 pages

Acknowledgements: National End of Life Care Programme

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End of Life Care Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 3 Issue 12

Is an advance care planning model feasible in community palliative care? A multi-site action research approach

Source: Journal of Advanced Nursing 2011 v.67(12)

Follow this link for the article abstract

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article reports a study to determine the feasibility of an advance care planning model developed with community palliative care services. An effective advance care planning programme involves an organisational wide commitment and preparedness for health service reform to embed advance care planning into routine practice. Internationally, such programmes have been implemented predominantly in aged and acute care with more recent work in primary care. The article concludes that an advance care planning model is feasible for community palliative care services. Quality audit processes are an essential component of the Model with documentation of advance care planning discussion established as an important outcome measure.

Some important notes: This article is published online ahead of print. Contact your local health library to obtain a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.

National End of Life Care Programme Newsletter November 2011 – Theme: Social Care

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for fulltext.

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: Newsletter

In a nutshell: This edition of the newsletter includes features:   

• Pressing ahead with the social care agenda which is about the progress made in the ’Supporting people to live and die well’ programme
• Meeting the end of life needs of people with MND
• Testing out e-Elca in a large acute Trust

Length of publication: 14 pages

Issues facing commissioners of end-of-life care

Source: The King’s Fund

Follow this link for summary and to download free fulltext.

Date of publication: September 2011

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell:  End-of-life care services are typically funded and delivered by a range of organisations including the NHS,  local government, the voluntary sector and independent agencies, charities and through informal or formal donations. This growing complexity coupled with demands on end-of-life care services means that commissioning services is challenging.  This document addresses the current complex arrangements around EoLC funding and highlights barriers as well as the opportunities commissioning offers.

Some of the issues that make end-of-life care important for commissioners include:

• demographic changes =  an increase in the number of deaths and also increases in the number of people living with complex and co-existing  diseases
• government’s end-of-life care strategy clearly emphasises that eolc is a local commissioning priority
• several monitoring and incentive programmes are aimed at improving the quality of care.

Length of publication: 24 pages

Acknowledgement: The King’s Fund

QIPP End of Life Showcase Events for Clinical Commissioners

Source:  National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for fulltext.

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: News

In a nutshell:  This series of four identical showcase seminars staged throughout the UK are funded by the QIPP End of Life national workstream in order to equip commissioners improve quality and drive down costs. They are designed around sharing best practice in community interventions at end of life and feature presentations from five organisations already achieving high quality, value for money outcomes for their end of life patients.

The purpose of these showcase events are:

• To give commissioners an overview of the current challenge and opportunity for QIPP at the end of life.
• To demonstrate models of community support at end of life that deliver desired quality, innovation, productivity and prevention outcomes
• To stimulate debate about critical success factors for effective commissioning at end of life
• To provide material which will support clinical commissioners and others in delivering QIPP at the end of life.

A narrative literature review of the evidence regarding the economic impact of avoidable hospitalizations amongst palliative care patients in the UK

Source: Progress in Palliative Care 2011 v.19(6), p291-8

Follow this link for article abstract

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article carries out a  narrative review of the evidence relating to the potential economic impact of reducing avoidable admissions among palliative care patients in the UK. The article concludes that the evidence base from the UK relating to the economic impact of avoidable admissions in palliative care is limited. Although two recent retrospective studies suggest that there are currently high levels of avoidable admissions, the feasibility of avoiding such admissions and the full economic consequences of such changes have not been clearly demonstrated. Further evidence is needed to provide a more robust estimate of the extent to which the additional costs of providing high-quality community support are offset by reduced inpatient usage by palliative care patients.

Length of publication: 8 pages

Some important notes: Contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.