The Effect of Expressive Art on Fatigue in Palliative Medicine Fellows (S715)

Abstract

1. Recognize the challenges palliative care providers face in their practice. 2. Identify an accessible resource for expert assistance on palliative care issues.Background. Community physicians are often ill-prepared for the management of complex symptoms. With a shortage of board certified physicians in palliative medicine, there is a lack of access to critical pain and symptom management expertise to care for seriously ill patients.Research Objectives. Provide a palliative care telephone hotline resource for healthcare professionals.Method. San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine received a grant from United Healthcare to provide a telephone hotline for professionals to assist in answering clinical questions relating to palliative care. An extensive marketing campaign was initiated to publicize the service. Information from the calls was collected over a 2½ year period. The data included referral source, geographic area, diagnosis, and reason for call. Satisfaction surveys were sent following calls.