Table 2 Specialised Palliative Care interventions at the two study locations
From: Comparing two models of outpatient specialised palliative care
| Outpatient clinics | R/K SPC team | N/S/N SPC team |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 180 | 280 |
| The team receive referrals from: |
Hospital physician Private practitioners Other professionals at the hospital Professionals at hospices Family doctor Home care nurse Professionals at nursing homes and community day centre Patients themselves Patients’ family members |
Hospital physician Private practitioners Professionals at hospices Family doctor |
| Pre-admission assessment for the SPC teams | Pre-admission assessment is carried out daily and patients in need of specialised palliative care, regardless of their diagnoses or age, are accepted | Preadmission assessment is carried out daily and patients in need of specialised palliative care, regardless of their diagnoses or age, are accepted |
| SPC team staff |
Palliative care physicians Palliative care nurses Physiotherapist Social worker Priest Dietician Psychologist |
Palliative care physicians Palliative care nurses Physiotherapist Social worker Priest |
| Location of outpatient consultations |
Primarily at the outpatient clinic located at the hospital Home visits | Always home visits |
| Duration of association with the SPC team | From pre-admission assessment to end of life | From pre-admission assessment to well established palliative care, as agreed by patient, family and health professionals |
| Hotline service for patients | Two hours during daytime on weekdays, provided by palliative care nurses | During daytime on weekdays, provided by palliative care nurses |
| Hotline service for professionals | 24-hotline service, provided by palliative care physicians and nurses. Offered to professionals from hospitals, nursing homes, family doctors, primary healthcare nurses and other who may call. | During the daytime on weekdays, provided by palliative care physicians and nurses. Offered to professionals from hospitals and nursing homes |
| Routine offer of care to family | Yes | Yes |
| Routine offer of care to bereaved family | Yes | No |
| Approach to care | Multidisciplinary, addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs | Multidisciplinary, addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs |