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Geriatrics & frailty

Prehospital providers' perceptions of emergency calls near life's end.

Deborah Waldrop, Brian Clemency, Eugene Maguin, Heather Lindstrom

The American journal of hospice & palliative care · 2014-01-10 · Qualitative study

Read at publisher · PubMed

Abstract

The nature of emergency end-of-life calls is changing as people live longer and die from chronic illnesses. This study explored prehospital providers' perceptions of (1) end-of-life 911 calls, (2) the signs and symptoms of dying, and (3) medical orders for life sustaining treatment (MOLST). The exploratory-descriptive pilot study was survey based and cross-sectional. Calls to nursing homes occur most often, (47.8% every shift). The MOLST was seen infrequently (57.9% rarely never). The most frequent signs and symptoms of dying were diagnosis (76%), hospice involvement (82%), apnea (75%), mottling (55%), and shortness of breath (48%). The MOLST identifies wishes about intubation (74%), resuscitation (74%), life-sustaining treatment (72%), and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (70%). Synergy exists between the fields of prehospital, hospice, and palliative medicine which offers potential for improved education and care.

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Tags

Advance directives & DNR · Nursing & care homes · Clinician perspective

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