Palliative care consultation trajectories.

BACKGROUND Palliative care consultations teams (PCCTs) promote comprehensive health but only if the PCCT can influence actual care. The purpose of this study is to document the types of recommendations made by a PCCT, determine the rates at which recommendations are implemented, and identify the factors related to implementation. RESULTS The mean number of recommendations per patient was 1.44 (standard deviation = 1.81), and 57% of the recommendations were implemented. Discharge and goals of care recommendations were significantly more likely to be implemented than recommendations for pain, symptom management, and consultation of other services. CONCLUSIONS Although PCCTs may have suggestions about how to guide care, many of those recommendations are not implemented. Future research is needed to understand how to maximize the impact of PCCTs.