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

In Reply To: Use of VAlium for end of life restlessness
Next Reply: Re:Re:Use of VAlium for end of life restlessness

Post Re:Use of VAlium for end of life restlessness
Author: mrabow [CAPC/PCLC Faculty]
Date: Dec 6, 2007 6:48 pm
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.
Replies: order by [Date] [Author] [Subject]
Re:Re:Use of VAlium for end of life restlessness (by Tom_Quinn on 12/07/2007)
The circumstances and reassessment need to be clearly and consistently documented. The JC (new name for JCAHO) or other regulator could interpret continued unsupported use of a sedative as a "chemical restraint," which requires frequent reassessment and re-ordering (can't be open ended), just as a physical restraint does. This is both a patient safety and a patient right issue for them.

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