Thursday, January 11, 2007
1:30 - 2:30 PM Eastern

FEATURED SPEAKERS
Sharol Herr, RN, MA
Palliative Nurse Clinician & Education Coordinator
Mt. Carmel Health System

Philip Santa-Emma, MD
Medical Director, Palliative Care Services
Mt. Carmel Health System

J. Brian Cassel, Ph.D.
Financial Analyst
VCU Massey Cancer Center

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
In June 2006, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report describing a national epidemic of overcrowded emergency departments (EDs) and trauma centers. This audio conference will explore ways in which palliative care can be an integral part of the future of emergency care in the US.

When patients in the ED present with acute illnesses and multiple chronic diseases, pain and symptom burdens can be huge and the medical decisions daunting. Palliative care services excel in handling just these sorts of complex patients. Palliative care services can quickly assess and treat uncontrolled pain, assist with family counseling and prevent inappropriate care. Initiating palliative consultation or direct admission from the ED to the palliative care service can improve throughput, decrease acute care LOS, impact financial outcomes and provide the highest quality care for our most seriously ill patients.

Click here to download the Power Point presentation.