A study led by Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng found that many patients with terminal cancer who visited the Emergency Department in 2012 within two weeks of dying in hospital did not have an advanced care plan. The plan allows patients and their families to discuss and record their wishes for end of life care. Of the 130 patient files the researchers reviewed, 71 percent did not have an advanced care directive, and only 18 percent had a palliative care provider. This suggests that palliative care needs to be discussed and put into practice earlier in this patient population. Compared to hospices, hospitals are not as well equipped to closely monitor palliative patients and ensure good symptom control. It also costs 2.5 times less to provide this care in a hospice. The researchers hope that highlighting this gap in optimal care for patients with terminal cancer will improve future practice.

“We’re passionate about providing exceptional care at all stages of life. Timely discussions about end of life care help us achieve this, said Dr. Kyeremanteng, acritical care and palliative care physician and associate scientist at Rhe Ottawa Hospital. He is also a senior clinician investigator at the Institut du-savoir Montfort and an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa.

Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine

Authors: Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, Abid Ismail, Cynthia Wan, Kednapa Thavorn, Gianni D’Egidio,

Funders: This study had no dedicated funding. All research at The Ottawa Hospital is supported by generous donations to the hospital.

The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion 

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.

University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas

The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

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