Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Improving Partnerships With Emergency Medical Services
David H. Wang, Amelia Breyre, Justin K. Brooten, Kenneth C. Hanson
Abstract
Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians increasingly encounter seriously ill patients and their caregivers in times of distress. When crises arise or care coordination falls short, these high-stakes interactions highlight opportunities to improve care experience and outcomes. Efforts must address wide educational gaps, absence of specialized care protocols, and systematic fragmentation leading to hyperlocal practice. The authors represent cross-sectional expertise in palliative care and EMS. This article describes unmet needs at the EMS-palliative interface, challenges with collaboration, and where directional progress exists.
Topics & Concepts
Palliative careMedicineNursingEmergency medical servicesDistressMEDLINEMedical emergencyClinical psychologyPolitical scienceLawPalliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesHealthcare Decision-Making and RestraintsEmergency and Acute Care Studies