Center to Advance Palliative Care

New Website

CAPC launches getpalliativecare.org for patients and families
Visit the site ...

 
Partners



Views

CAPC Palliative Care Discussion Forum
General Operational Topics

Next Reply: Re:Use of VAlium for end of life restlessness
Previous Message: documentation to prevent pain and symptoms
Next Message: Nebulized fentanyl

Post Use of VAlium for end of life restlessness
Author: gailcousineau
Date: Oct 4, 2007 8:22 pm
We continue to use Valium Suppositories for end of life restlessness even when the pt no longer demonstrates restlessness, as a preventative practice, to prevent reoccurance. How do you document this continued use that is acceptable to JC and Medicare?
Replies: order by [Date] [Author] [Subject]
+ Re:Use of VAlium for end of life restlessness (by mrabow on 12/06/2007)
I'd welcome comments from others but I think it is key to document, with any intervention, that it is consistent with safety goals. Both Medicare and JCAHO are very focused on promoting safety, with fall prevention as a particular focus. Any use of benzodiazepines, especially in the elderly, would need to document very carefully that patients are not being sedated by the med and are not experiencing an increased risk of falling. I do not know of any medicare or JCAHO regulations around prevention of terminal restlessness. Best, Michael Rabow, MD, Associate Direcdtor, UCSF Palliative Care Leadership Center.

IMPORTANT: In order to post a new message or reply to an existing post in the discussion you must login. If you are not a registered member you may join here.
The statements posted in the forum section of capc.org are opinions expressed by website visitors and do not necessarily represent the viewpoints or positions of the Center to Advance Palliative Care(CAPC). CAPC is not responsible for the factual or legal accuracy of any of the statements posted.


General questions about using the CAPCconnectTM palliative care discussion forum? EmailPatricia.Caines@mssm.edu