Palliative principles are increasingly within the scope of emergency medicine (EM). In EM, there remain untapped opportunities to improve primary palliative care (PC) and integrate patients earlier into the palliative continuum. However, the emergency department (ED) differs from other practice environments with its unique systemic pressures, priorities, and expectations. To build effective, efficient, and sustainable partnerships, palliative clinicians are best served by understanding the ED's practice priorities. The authors, each EM and Hospice and Palliative Medicine board certified and in active practice, present these 10 high-yield tips to optimize the ED consultation by PC teams.
Keywords: comfort care; emergency department; emergency medical services (EMS); emergency medicine; end of life; hospice; palliative.